Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance
on Public Land
VEAC Metropolitan Melbourne Study 2008/9
Final Report May 2009
Basalt columns at The Organ Pipes National Park:
a site of State significance ML 016
(Photo: Bernie Joyce)
Southern railway cutting, Royal Park:a site of Regional significance ML 069
(Photo: Susan White)
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
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Introduction
The significant geological and geomorphological sites of the Metropolitan Melbourne
Investigation area display characteristics of the Cainozoic history as well as the earlier
Mesozoic or Palaeozoic geology and show a wide variety of geological site type.
Many localities display geological and landform features of interest for educational,
research or conservation purposes. Geological sites display features developed over
geological time, such as an outcrop with sediments or fossils. As well, many
geomorphological sites are important for displaying active land forming processes, such as
stream erosion and deposition. Some sites show rare or unusual minerals, fossils or
landforms. The size and nature of such features varies widely and includes natural
outcrops, exposures in road and railway cuttings, quarries or other excavated sites and
important landforms. Sites are rated according to a defined scale of significance.
In total there are 153 sites of geological or geomorphological significance described for
this investigation area. Two sites are of International and three of National significance.
Eight sites are of State significance while the remaining list comprises those of Regional or
Local geological heritage value.
Significance Assessment
Three overlapping concepts, outstanding, rare and representative, are used when selecting
sites and assessing their level of significance. Significance is often ascribed to features
because they are outstanding in some way. However, recognition of only outstanding or
rare sites is insufficient to identify all significant elements of the geological landscape and
recognition of representative places complements and balances such perception.
Representative sites are examples of features typical of a region; outstanding sites are
excellent examples of a feature, either in the region or on a wider scale; and rarity is based
on the degree of replication of a feature, the extreme case being a feature that is unique. A
geographic scale enables comparison of the significance of sites, for example, is the site of
local, regional, state, national or international significance. These ratings may be used in
combination; for example a representative feature for a region may also be an outstanding
or rare example on a state or national level. Significance ratings contain a degree of
subjectivity for they are in part determined by the existing data about the site as well as the
level of knowledge of the assessors of similar sites elsewhere. It is important to note that
geological, including geomorphological, significance may not relate to the aesthetics of a
landscape. Some sites of very high significance may not be at all aesthetic, e.g. quarry
faces or road cuttings whereas aesthetically pleasing views may not always be assigned a
high geological significance (White et al, 2003).
Geological sites possess at least one of the following attributes to be considered for
assessment on their significance:
•
a type section of a geological unit,
•
a fossil locality,
•
exposures of a range of features characteristic of the rock unit, or exposures of
features which are unusual in the rock unit, or demonstrates relationships between
rock units,
•
an unusual occurrence of a particular feature or mineral,
•
an illustration of tectonic and/or volcanic processes,
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
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•
features which enable palaeoclimatic reconstruction,
•
demonstration of the effects of weathering, erosion and/or deposition on landform
evolution. This geomorphic process may be active or relict,
•
a representative example of a landform type.
The assigning or reviewing geological significance is undertaken in Victoria by the
Geological Society of Australia Inc. (Victoria Division), Heritage subcommittee (see
Appendix 1) (White et al, 2003). More detailed data for each site is provided in the
Appendix 2. In this report, features within the Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation area
are assessed using the concepts referred to above and attributed an overall significance
rating of local, regional, state, national or international significance and listed in Table 2.
Significant geological features in the region include rock units and structures visible as
natural outcrops and in exposures created by mining and quarrying operations, road and
railway cuttings. Important geomorphological features are included, especially those
related to the coastal areas of Port Phillip and Westernport bays. The geology and
geomorphology is complex but much is obscured by urban development and outside the
scope of this brief. As public land is not extensive in metropolitan Melbourne, road and
railway cuttings, stream reserves, and coastal reserves dominate the significant geological
sites in this investigation area. Limited sites are found in public parks. Many sites are
across land tenure boundaries and often only parts of a site are exposed on public land but
the majority of that site may be on private land. The public land component of such sites is
often as road and rail cuttings and stream reserves. The heritage and scientific value of the
cuttings is therefore very high as they offer insight into geology that is otherwise
inaccessible.
The level of geological significance is classified at local, regional, state, national or
international level by documentation, assessment and comparison. The criteria used in the
assessment included whether the site is representative and/or outstanding, rarity, how many
representatives are justified, comparison with other similar sites, threats to the site and
whether it is a particularly good example or a type section or type example (for landforms).
Other aspects of the site such as present and past land use, diversity of features present,
access, and vulnerability to damage are also considered.
Significance has been assigned to all sites. Sites are assigned Unknown Significance if
there is insufficient data to allow a complete assessment to be made. Typically these sites
are either under investigation or subject to continual change eg. active quarry faces. No
sites have been assigned this significance in this study. Even when final significance is
assigned, further research and information may result in new sites or updated data
changing significance values. These assessments are therefore not permanent for all time
and sites are re-assessed periodically by GSA (Vic).
Site details
Specific sites are listed below (Table 2). Appendix 2 has the following detailed information
for each site:
• site number: a unique alpha/numeric identification number based on the 1:250000
geological map series covering Victoria and used by the Geological Society of
Australia (Victoria) Geological Heritage database (Table 1)
• site name
• municipality: current municipality. Some sites are in more than one municipality
• land status: Crown land, public land. Some sites are on both public and private land
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• site significance: International, National, State, Regional and Local
• general location: Melbourne suburb or nearest town/village
• map data and detailed location: 1:250,000, map zone (55) and GPS location in
AGD94 projection
• land use: very general statement if known e.g. stream reserve
• site scale: Large (>500m length/25ha area), medium (100-500m/1-25ha) small
(<100m/1ha)
• site description: short description of geology
• significance statement: reasons for significance
• management statement: suggestions for management actions and requirements for
International, National, and State significance sites only
• list of references: detailed references in reference list at end of this report.
Sites of geological and geomorphological significance have been identified and described
from literature and personal contacts with earth science professionals and field checked
where necessary.
However a list such as this will always be incomplete. Extra sites are added as they
become known. As this assessment is for public land only, if land is acquired or sold the
list will need updating. Nevertheless it represents the known sites of geological and
geomorphological significance in the Melbourne area at this time.
Although a few important sites are just outside the borders of the investigation area, they
have not been incorporated into the list. This includes the Internationally significant
Westernport Tidal Watershed (QN 173), which is off shore and is not specifically in the
investigation area.
Sites are identified using the alpha/numeric identification numbers based on the 1:250000
geological map series covering Victoria and used by the Geological Society of Australia
(Victoria) Geological Heritage database. The site identification number is associated with
the relevant map sheet: ML Melbourne; QN Queenscliff, WL Warragul and a small part of
WR Warburton (Table 1).
Table 1: Relationships between map sheets. This table indicates the relative positions of
the 1:250 000 sheet areas, which made up this study. The investigation area does not cover
the entire area of these map sheets.
MELBOURNE
ML
WARBURTON
WR
QUEENSCLIFF
QN
WARRAGUL
WL
A total of 153 sites of geological significance are identified in the investigation area, where
at least part of the site is on public land. The bulk of these sites are of either Regional or
Local significance but a thirteen sites are of International, National or State significance.
Many of these sites have been known for some years from Joyce & King (1980) and
several studies by Rosengren (1983; 1984a,b; 1986; 1988; 1993) but a few new sites have
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been identified during this study. A number of the sites, even though known, have not
previously been subjected to the GSA assessment process.
International significance
In this study only two sites of International significance have been identified: ML 310 and
ML 311, the Beaumaris Cliffs Tertiary fossil sites No. 1 (Keefers) and No. 2 (Yacht
Squadron) respectively. These sites are comparable with examples known internationally
and are type examples widely known as reference sites by the international geological
community. Over forty such sites have been identified in Victoria. These important
reference and type location sites have serious management problems, which have not been
addressed even though the issues have been raised with relevant state and municipal
government authorities in the past. Continued inadequate management a resulting in the
degradation of such sites is a poor advertisement for the value placed on geological
heritage. Management suggestions are made in the spreadsheet and in the section below on
management of geological sites. These sites should be nominated for inclusion on the
Federal Government’s National Heritage List with some urgency.
National significance
Three sites of National significance have been identified on public land. These are the
Taylor’s Creek silcrete cave (ML 190), Dry Creek-Maribyrnong River junction Quaternary
fossil site (ML 011) and the Yallock Creek swamp sediments (QN 152). Nationally
significant sites are those which show features that are rare in Australia or are important
nationally by virtue of their scale or state of preservation. They are widely used as
reference sites by the Australian geological community, and they should be included in a
national register of sites of scientific significance. Seventy sites of national significance
have been identified in Victoria. The silcrete cave is an example of an extremely unusual
cave formation and is vulnerable to damage. Similar to the Beaumaris sites (described
above), degradation of this site is a serious problem and no attempt has been made to
mitigate the problems. Assistance from the speleological community could be sought
(Victorian Speleological Association and Australian Speleological Federation) and Parks
Victoria has a Cave and Karst Advisory Group.
At the Dry Creek-Marybyrnong River fossil site (ML 011), the stream banks and quarries
expose a sequence through Silurian sediments, Tertiary sediments and both Older and
Newer Volcanics. The valleys contain two main terraces which contain significant
archaeological material. A number of detailed studies have been carried out at the fossil
site, contributing to the understanding of the regional Pleistocene prehistory and
palaeoclimates. The site is now degraded by gullying, bank instability and weed invasion.
The Yallock Creek swamp sediments (QN 152) are one of Australia’s great swamp
landscapes. They do not appear to be specifically threatened at the moment, as access is
not easy. However coastal protection works and infrastructure should not damage this site.
These sites should be nominated for inclusion on the Federal Government’s National
Heritage List. Management suggestions are provided in the relevant section below.
State significance
Eight sites of State significance have been identified. These sites are important in defining
the geology and geomorphology of Victoria. These range from type sections of lithologies
restricted to Victoria e.g. sedimentary sequences (Werribee River cliffs - floodplain
sediments ML 375), major tectonic features (Athlone - Lang Lang River Knickpoint WL
088), Cainozoic volcanic sites (The Organ Pipes ML 016, and Williamstown lava blister
ML 308), Cainozoic climatic and hydrological sites (Green Gully ML 012) at Keilor and
complex modern coastal sites such as Altona Meadows active sand spits (ML 249), Lyall
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Inlet to Bunyip River (QN19.2), Quail Island and Watson Inlet Area (QN 023), where the
modern processes are active. Management suggestions are made in the spreadsheet an in
the section below on management of geological sites.
Regional and Local significance
Seventy-three sites of Regional significance are identified. These sites include landforms
or geological features representative of the Melbourne region and include several examples
of the alluvial terraces along various urban creeks or streams.
Sixty-seven sites of Local significance are listed. These are features representative of
smaller areas in a region and although these are not of high significance, they can be
locally important for educational and scientific purposes. As such they should not be
regarded as unimportant because other more highly significant features exist. Specific
management suggestions are not made for these sites of lower heritage value but general
comments made below for site management are equally applicable.
Management of sites
Management of geological sites needs careful consideration especially with regard to the
role of vegetation, especially revegetation and slope or coastal stabilisation works. More
detailed information is available from the Geological Society of Australia (Vic) website
<http://www.vic.gsa.org.au/Heritage/Management.htm>. Although many features are
robust they require sympathetic management, especially in metropolitan areas where sites
are often destroyed or obscured by urbanization. Rock faces in cuttings and quarries that
have long provided valuable exposures are increasingly being obscured by plantings or
destroyed altogether in accompanying landscaping and facility provision such as car
parking. Landforms that have been identified as geologically significant are being
concealed beneath a mantle of trees and shrubs. In some parks the very features that were
cited as reasons for creating the reserve are now scarcely visible. With careful planning it
should be possible to enhance the biological, aesthetic and safety values at geologically
significant sites without compromising the geological values.
The following general principles are suggested for management of sites of geological
significance.
ƒ Sites that have been identified as geologically significant should be managed in such
a way that those features that contribute to its geological value are retained or enhanced
and not obscured, damaged or destroyed. Within the boundaries of a large site, the
components that have special value may not be distributed uniformly so that practices
that are acceptable or desirable in one part may not be in another part.
ƒ Where sites have a range of heritage values, then conservation should be based on
respecting all the differing values of the place without unwarranted emphasis on any
one aspect at the expense of others.
ƒ Revegetation and associated land rehabilitation operations that adversely impact on
geological values should only be undertaken for essential purposes where no other
alternative strategy is available. Revegetation Guidelines are available from the GSA
(Vic) website < http://www.vic.gsa.org.au/Heritage/Management.htm>.
Several of the highly significant sites listed in this report are in urgent need of appropriate
management. Both the Internationally significant sites and two of the three Nationally
significant sites are currently under serious threat of degradation and destruction. Although
the State significant sites are not as threatened they also are generally in need of more
appropriate management.
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
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Table 2 List of sites of geological and geomorphological significance
International
ML 310
Beaumaris Cliffs Tertiary fossil site No. 1 (Keefers)
ML 311
Beaumaris Cliffs Tertiary fossil site No. 2 (Yacht Squadron)
National
ML 011
ML 190
QN 152
Dry Creek-Maribyrnong River junction Quaternary fossil site
Taylors Creek silcrete cave
Yallock Creek Swamp Sediments
State
ML 012
ML 016
ML 249
ML 308
ML 375
QN 019.2
QN 023
WL 088
Green Gully (Taylors Creek)
Organ Pipes (The)
Altona Meadows active sand spits
Williamstown lava blister
Werribee River cliffs - floodplain sediments (Provisional)
Lyall Inlet to Bunyip River
Quail Island and Watson Inlet Area
Athlone - Lang Lang River Knickpoint
Regional
ML 018
ML 019
ML 036
ML 042
ML 052
ML 055
ML 055.01
ML 069
ML 078
ML 081
ML 088
ML 129
ML 130
ML 142
ML 167
ML 168
ML 169
ML 170
ML 171
ML 213
ML 214
ML 215
ML 216
ML 217
ML 223
ML 233
ML 236
ML 246
ML 247
ML 248
ML 259
ML 262
ML 268
ML 272
Breakneck Hill cutting No. 1
Breakneck Hill cutting No. 2
Djerriwarrh Creek (Western Highway cuttings)
Royal Park Railway Station cutting
Studley Park Pumping Station track cuttings
Dights Falls
Merri Creek/Yarra River confluence and digitate delta.
Southern railway cutting, Royal Park
Victoria Street cuttings
Newmans Road-Porter Street cuttings
Somerton tuff outcrop
Bulla kaolin pit No.2
Wellington Road cutting
Rockbeare Park
Werribee River delta sediments
Altona sand ridges
Williamstown foreshore
Red Bluff
Black Rock Point
Plenty Road cutting (Newer Volcanics)
Coburg Lake Reserve (basalt outcrop)
Coburg Lake Reserve (eastern bank)
De Chene Reserve (tessellated pavement)
De Chene Reserve (quarry) - lava flow features.
Maribyrnong River terraces
Exford cutting
Jacksons Creek (Ordovician and Newer Volcanics)
Altona East sand bars
Point Cook coastal ridges
Point Cook parallel sand ridges
Sunbury Municipal Tip (basalt sediment contact)
Tea Gardens (Newer Volcanics)
Werribee River prior stream
Merrett Rifle Range shore platform
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ML 304
ML 305
ML 306
ML 309
ML 312
ML 313
ML 332.01
ML 334
ML 344
ML 345
ML 359
ML 360
ML 362
ML 374
ML 376
ML 377
QN 017
QN 019
QN 019.1
QN 023.2
QN 087
QN 091
QN 118
QN 146
QN 147
QN 149
QN 151
QN 161
WL 003
WL 067
WL 075
WL 082
WL 084
WL 086
WL 097
WR 071
WR 072
WR 073
WR 074
Ricketts Point
Skeleton Creek relict spits and lagoons
Table Rock Point
Kororoit Creek tidal channels and saltmarsh
Beaumaris Cliffs No. 3 (Beaumaris Monocline)
Yarra Boulevard dyke
Warrandyte Gorge - structural geology and river channel morphology
Bend of Islands - strike ridge islands
Northcote Park Football Ground - basalt columns
Creek Parade - Basalt columns and lava cave
Mahoneys Road - alluvial terrace
Retarding Basin - dolomite
Barry Road Gorge - unconformity
Taylors Creek
Mullum Mullum Tunnel cuttings
Koonung Creek Linear Park
Sawtells Inlet
Bunyip River and delta
Pelican Point - coastal deposits
Watson Inlet
Seaford parallel dunes
Yallock Creek to Lang Lang Beach - earth cliffs
Langwarrin - Silurian outcrop
Rutherford Inlet- Warneet Beds
Chinaman Island to Blind Bight
Rythdale - arcuate ridge
Cardinia - arcuate ridge
Olivers Hill - Tertiary section
Lang Lang River terraces
Tynong North - Hamilton Creek cave
Bunyip River - terraces and abandoned channels
Lang Lang River iIncision
Yanathan - old course of Lang Lang River
Heath Hill - fault scarp
Lang Lang earth cliffs
Gembrook East - lava residual
Egg Rock - granite outcrop
Seven Acre Rock - granite outcrops
Black Snake Range - granite slopes
Local
ML 039
ML 050
ML 051
ML 053
ML 063
ML 064
ML 068
ML 070
ML 072
ML 074
ML 075
ML 083
ML 097
ML 098
ML 099
ML 125
Gellibrand Hill
Plenty River Gorge
Grimshaw Street cuttings
Oaklands Road cutting
Yarra Boulevard unconformity
Yarra Boulevard cuttings
Yarra Bend
Eastern Freeway cutting (basalt)
Dry Creek anticline
Eastern Freeway cutting (sandstone)
Tram Road-Whittens Lane cuttings
Picnic Point
Reynolds Road cutting (West of Mullum Mullum Creek)
Reynolds Road cutting (East of Mullum Mullum Creek)
Maroondah Highway cutting (opposite Alice Street)
Glenvale cuttings (Whittlesea to Upper Plenty)
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ML 127
ML 133
ML 165
ML 172
ML 176
ML 182
ML 211
ML 212
ML 232
ML 250
ML 255
ML 257
ML 263
ML 265
ML 266
ML 271
ML 284
ML 286
ML 292
ML 296
ML 298
ML 299
ML 300
ML 302
ML 335
ML 336
ML 343.01
ML 343.02
ML 346
ML 347
ML 348
ML 349
ML 350
ML 351
ML 352
ML 353
ML 354
ML 355
ML 356
ML 357
ML 358
ML 361
ML 368
ML 369
QN 110
QN 113
QN 115
WL 068
WL 069
WL 074
WL 080
Wellington Road cutting
Elizabeth Street cuttings
Bulla Adamellite (Somerton Road)
Bridge Inn Road cutting
Hunters Lane cutting
Radio Tower Hill
McArthurs Road cutting
Plenty Road cutting (Red Bluff Sand)
Essendon West Tertiary sediment
Kororoit Creek floodplain
Skeleton Creek consequent stream (Altona)
Steele Creek terrace floodplain
Werribee River terraces
Werribee River knickpoint No. 1
Taylors Creek (Newport Formation)
Sydenham Park Silurian and Tertiary sediments
Altona shore platform
Andersons Swamp (Lake Stanley)
Deep Creek Wildwood outcrops
Kororoit Creek incised valley
Kororoit Creek valley (St Albans)
Kororoit Creek waterhole (Deer Park)
Kororoit Creek valley (Altona North)
Kororoit Creek escarpments
Homestead Road Bend - lateral rock bars
Entrance to Warrandyte Gorge
Yarra Bend Park - radial basalt columns
Quarries Park - ropy lava
Rushall Station - basalt structures
Sumner Park - Silurian/basalt unconformity
Capp Reserve - Melbourne Formation
Tate Reserve - former creek course
Kendall and Harding Streets - Melbourne Formation and terrace
Edgars Creek terrace and meanders
Edgars Creek - waterfall and geological structure
Kodak - Cliff of Melbourne Formation
Edgars Creek - dolomite nodules
Coburg Lake - basalt structures and unconformity
Coburg Lake - alluvial terrace
Carr Street - Weathered Silurian
Moomba Park Reserve - basalt escarpment
Retarding Basin - alluvial basin
Wallan - Woodstock Road cuttings - Humevale Formation (1)
Wallan - Woodstock Road cuttings - Humevale Formation (2)
Upper Beaconsfield - Split Rock
Pakenham - Toomuc Creek incision
Cardinia Park - stream incision
Cannibal Creek - impeded drainage
Cannibal Hill - Tynong Granite
Bunyip River - terraces
Koo-Wee-Rup - Main Drain
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geology excursion guide. Australian Academy of Science, Canberra: 387-399.
James, A.V.G. 1920. ‘The physiography and geology of the Bulla - Sydenham area’.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 32(2): 323-349.
Jenkin, J.J. 1962. ‘The geology and hydrogeology of the Westernport area’. Dept. of
Mines, Vict. Underground Water Investigation Report. No. 5.
Jenkin, J.J. 1970. ‘Geological history of the West Gippsland Region’. Proceedings of the
Royal Society of Victoria 84 (1): 19-28.
Jenkin, J.J. 1976. Quaternary. In J.G. Douglas & J.A. Ferguson (eds) Geology of Victoria.
Geological Society of Australia Special Publication 5: 305-309.
Jenkin, J.J., Lawrence, C.R., Kenley, P.R., Gill, E.D., Macumber, P.G. & Neilson, J.L.
1988. Chapter 9: Quaternary. In J.G. Douglas & J.A. Ferguson (eds) Geology of Victoria.
Geological Society of Australia (Victoria Division): 351-402.
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Jones, O.A. 1927. ‘Silurian graptolites from Studley Park, Melbourne, Australia’.
Geological Magazine 44(3): 101-105.
Joshi, M.S. & Atkinson, P.L. 1988. ‘Bulla - Toolern Vale - Gisborne – Greenvale’. In I.
Clark & B. Cook (eds) Victorian geology excursion guide. Australian Academy of Science,
Canberra: 413-432.
Joyce, E.B. & Anderson, R.S. 1976. ‘Late Quaternary geology and environment at the Dry
Creek archaeological site near Keilor in Victoria, Australia’. The Artefact 1(2): 47-74.
Joyce, E.B. & King, R.L. 1980. Geological Features of the National Estate in Victoria,
208 pp. Geological Society of Australia, Victoria Division, Melbourne.
Joyce, E.B. 1983. ‘Sub-basaltic silcrete at Keilor’. Abstracts of the Institute of Australian
Geographers, 18th Conference: 49.
Joyce, E.B., Webb, J.A. & Tidey, A. 1983. ‘Silcrete in south central Victoria’. Bureau of
Mineral Resources Geology & Geophysics Record 1983/27: 82-87.
Jutson, J.T. 1909. ‘Physical history of the Plenty River’. Proceedings of the Royal Society
of Victoria 22(2): 153-171.
Jutson, J.T. 1931. ‘Erosion and sedimentation in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria.’ Proceedings
of the Royal Society of Victoria 43: 164-174.
Keble, R.A. (1918). ‘The significance of lava residuals in the development of Western Port
and Port Phillip drainage systems’. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 31(1):
124-165.
Kenley, P.R. 1967. ‘Tertiary.’ In Geology of the Melbourne district, Victoria. Geological
Survey of Victoria Bulletin 59: 34-46.
Key, L.M. (1967). Historical geography of the Kooweerup district. M.A. thesis (unpub.)
Dept. of Geog. Univ. of Melb. (unpubl.).
King, R.L., Cochrane, R.M. & Cooney, A.M. 1987. ‘Significant geological features along
the coast in the City of Sandringham.’ Geological Survey of Victoria Unpublished Report
1987/35.
Land Conservation Council, Victoria 1993. ‘Marine and Coastal Special Investigation
Descriptive Report’. Land Conservation Council, 1993.
Lawrence, C.R., Abele, C., Gloe, C.S., Hocking, J.B., Holdgate, G., Kenley, P.R. &
Ripper, D. 1976. ‘Tertiary’. In J.G. Douglas & J.A. Ferguson (eds) Geology of Victoria.
Geological Society of Australia Special Publication 5:177-274.
Marsden, M.A.H. and Mallett, C.W. (1975). ‘Quaternary evolution, morphology and
sediment distribution, Westernport Bay, Victoria’. Proceedings of the Royal Society of
Victoria. 87 (1): 107-137.
McDougall, I., Allsopp, H.L. & Chamaleun, F.H. 1966. ‘Isotopic dating of the Newer
Volcanics of Victoria, and geomagnetic polarity epochs.’ Journal of Geophysical Research
71(24): 6107-6118.
McDougall, K.L. 1986. Sites of botanical significance in the western region of
Melbourne.’ Dept. Conservation, Forests & Lands, and Melbourne Western Region
Commission Inc., Melbourne.
Miles, I.W. (1976). The morphology of northern Westernport Bay. M.Sc. thesis (unpubl.)
Dept. of Geog. Univ. of Melb.
Mitchell, M.M., Cochrane, R.M. & King, R.L. 2000. Sites of geological significance in the
Melbourne 1:250 000 mapsheet area. Geological Survey of Victoria Technical Record
2000/1. 184 p.
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
12
Price, R.C., Gray, C.M. & Frey, F.A. 1997. ‘Strontium isotopic and trace element
heterogeneity in the plains basalts of the Newer Volcanics Province, Victoria, Australia.’
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 61(1): 171-192.
Price, R.C., Gray, C.M., Nicholls, I.A. & Day, A. 1988. Cainozoic Volcanic rocks. In J.G.
Douglas & J.A. Ferguson (eds) Geology of Victoria. Geological Society of Australia
(Victoria Division): 439-452.
Pritchard, G.B. 1974. ‘Geology of Royal Park.’ Victorian Naturalist 91(8): 223-235.
Pritchard, G.B. 1976. ‘Geology of the Sandringham - Beaumaris coastline.’ Victorian
Naturalist 93(1): pp. 4-20.
Rosengren, N. 1993. The Merri Creek: Sites of Geological and Geomorphological
Significance. Report prepared for Merri Creek Management Committee Inc.
Rosengren, N., Frood, D. & Lowe, K. 1983. Sites of Geological, Geomorphological,
Botanical and Zoological Significance in the Flood Plain of the Upper Yarra River.
Unpub. Report prepared for the Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Authority.
Rosengren, N.J. 1984a. ‘Sites of geological and geomorphological significance in the
catchment of the Gippsland Lakes.’ Environmental Studies Series 402. Dept of
Conservation, Forests and Lands, Victoria.
Rosengren, N.J. 1986. ‘Sites of geological and geomorphological significance in the
western region of Melbourne.’ Dept of Conservation, Forests & Lands, Victoria.
Rosengren, N.J. 1988. ‘Sites of geological and geomorphological significance around Port
Phillip Bay.’ Department for Planning and Environment.
Rosengren, Neville. 1984b. ‘Sites of geological and Geomorphological Significance in the
Westernport Bay Catchment.’ Environmental Studies Series No. 401, Ministry for
Conservation, Victoria.
Schleiger, N.W. 1988. ‘Coburg.’ In I. Clark & B. Cook (eds) Victorian geology excursion
guide. Australian Academy of Science, Canberra: 475-484.
Simpson, G.G. 1970. ‘Miocene penguins from Victoria, Australia, and Chubut, Argentina.’
Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria 31: 17-23.
Singleton, F.A. 1923. ‘The geology of Royal Park.’ Proceedings of the Pan Pacific Science
Congress, Australia 1923, Melbourne Handbook: 93-96.
Singleton, F.A. 1941. ‘The Tertiary geology of Australia.’ Proceedings of the Royal
Society of Victoria 53: 1-125.
Singleton, O.P. 1973. ‘Geology of the Bacchus Marsh district.’ In J. McAndrew & M.A.H.
Marsden (eds) Regional guide to Victorian geology (2nd edition). School of Geology,
University of Melbourne: 59-64.
Spencer-Jones, D., Marsden, M.A.H., Barton, C.M. & Carrillo-Rivera, J.J. (1975).
“Geology of the Westernport sunkland”. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 87
(1&2): 43-68
Stillwell, F.L. 1911. ‘Notes on the geology of Broadmeadows.’ Proceedings of the Royal
Society of Victoria 24: 156-178.
Talent, J.A. 1967. ‘Sedimentary Petrology and Palaeontology.’ In Geology of the
Melbourne District, Victoria. Geological Survey Bulletin 59: 24-30.
Thompson, B. R. 1974. The geology and hydrology of the Western Port sunklands. Geol.
Surv. Rept. 1974/1
VandenBerg, A.H.M. 1971. ‘Explanatory notes on the Ringwood 1:63, 360 geological
map.’ Geological Survey of Victoria Unpublished Report 1971/1.
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VandenBerg, A.H.M. 1973. Geology of the Melbourne district. In J. McAndrew & M.A.H.
Marsden (eds) Regional guide to Victorian geology (2nd edition). School of Geology,
University of Melbourne: 14-30.
Webb, J.A. & Joyce, E.B. 1983. ‘Taylor Creek silcrete cave.’ Helictite 21(1): 25-32.
Webb, J.A. 1988. ‘Studley Park and Royal Park.’ In I. Clark & B. Cook (eds) Victorian
geology excursion guide. Australian Academy of Science, Canberra.
Whincup, S. (1944). Superficial sand deposits between Brighton and Frankston.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 56, 53-76.
White, A.J.R. 1988. Mernda. In I. Clark & B. Cook (eds) Victorian geology excursion
guide. Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, pp.433-442.
White, S., King, R. L., Mitchell, M. M., Joyce, E. B., Cochrane, R. M., Rosengren N. J. &
Grimes, K. G. 2003 ‘Conservation and heritage registering sites of significance’ In: Birch
W.D.(ed). 2003 Geology of Victoria Geological Society of Australia Special Publication
23. Geological Society of Australia (Victoria Division) : 703–711.
Wilkinson, H.E. 1969. ‘Description of an upper Miocene albatross from Beaumaris,
Victoria, Australia, and a review of fossil Diomedeidae.’ Memoirs of the National Museum
of Victoria 29, pp. 41-51.
Willis, J.H. 1951. ‘Melbourne's mangroves are dead.’ Victorian Naturalist 67: 205.
Woodbourne, M.O. 1969. ‘A lower mandible of Zygomaturis gilli from the Sandringham
Sands, Beaumaris.’ Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria 29: 29-39.
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
14
Appendix 1
GSA Protocol for assigning or reviewing geological significance.
Assigning or reviewing geological significance is undertaken in Victoria by the Geological
Society of Australia Inc (Victoria Division), Heritage subcommittee. The GSA is a
volunteer learned society. The GSA has developed a methodology and protocol for
assigning or reviewing geological significance (White et. al 2003), which has been
accepted as reliable and repeatable by organizations such as the former Australian Heritage
Commission (now Australian Heritage Council).
The following information is reviewed from personal experience, fieldwork, literature
review and consultation with other geologists with specific knowledge and expertise. The
GSA subcommittee has members with a wide range of geological experience and
expertise. Significance rating is achieved by consensus after considerable discussion on the
merits of each site. This is particularly the case for sites of International and National
significance where an extensive understanding of comparable sites outside Victoria is
desirable.
It is important to note that geological, including geomorphological, significance may not
necessarily relate to the aesthetics of a landscape. Some sites of very high significance may
not be at all aesthetic, e.g quarry faces or road cuttings whereas aesthetically pleasing
views may not always be assigned a high geological significance.
Geological sites should possess at least one of the following attributes to be considered for
assessment on their significance:
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
a type section of a geological unit,
a fossil locality,
exposures of a range of features characteristic of the rock unit, or exposures of
features which are unusual in the rock unit, or demonstrates relationships
between rock units,
an unusual occurrence of a particular feature or mineral,
an illustration of tectonic and/or volcanic processes,
features which enable palaeoclimatic reconstruction,
demonstration of the effects of weathering, erosion and/or deposition on
landform evolution. This geomorphic process may be active or relict,
a representative example of a landform type.
The criteria for significance is related to whether a site can be regarded as important with
regards to it being representative or outstanding. A choice often has to be made between
the most outstanding or unusual example and an excellent representative example from a
group of very similar ones.
The representative approach (McRae-Williams et al., 1981; King, 1985; Davey & White,
1986; Joyce, 1995) has been found to be the most appropriate in assessing significance but
outstanding examples must be considered. Criteria used in such assessment include:
ƒ how representative is the feature?
ƒ how adequately is each type of feature represented over a particular scale?
ƒ which feature is the most appropriate to represent a particular type?
ƒ how many representatives are justified?
ƒ How far would you travel with an interstate or international visitor with an
interest in that type of site?
ƒ How does it compare with other similar sites - regionally, in the state, in
Australia, internationally?
ƒ Is it under threat and if so, what is the nature of that threat?
ƒ How common or rare is the feature?
ƒ Is it a particularly good example?
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
15
ƒ
Is it a type section or type example (for landforms).
Other aspects of the site such as present and past land use, diversity of features present,
access, and vulnerability to damage are also considered. Features or areas are also
described according to size, physical and/or geological type and age.
The level of geological significance is classified at local, regional, state, national or
international level by documentation, assessment and comparison. The significance rating
assigned to a site is periodically reassessed in the light of new information and/or site
condition.
The criteria for classification are:
•
International Significance: These sites are landforms, structures, rock formations
or fossils which are rare in the world, and/or by the nature of their scale, state of
preservation or display, are comparable with examples known internationally. They may
be global type examples and are widely known as reference sites by the international
geological community. A site could be included in an international register of sites of
scientific significance and would rate listing on the Register of the National Estate by the
Australian Heritage Commission (now Council). Forty-five features of international
significance have been recognised, documented and assessed in Victoria. Tower Hill is an
example of an internationally significant site due to the well-preserved evidence of phreatic
volcanic processes.
•
National Significance: Sites that are rare in Australia or are important nationally
by virtue of their scale or state of preservation are assigned national significance. Widely
used as reference sites by the Australian geological community, they should be included in
a national register of sites of scientific significance and would be considered for listing on
the Register of the National Estate by the Australian Heritage Commission (now Council).
Seventy sites of national significance have been identified in Victoria. An example is
Mount Buffalo.
•
State Significance: These sites are important in defining the geology and
geomorphology of Victoria and may be reference sites or type examples and would be
considered for listing on the Register of the National Estate by the Australian Heritage
Council. There are over 200 sites of state significance identified and documented in
Victoria. An example is Mount Kororoit, Diggers Rest.
•
Regional Significance: These sites include landforms or geological features
representative of regions of about 60km radius. An example is the Royal Park railway
cuttings in Melbourne.
•
Local Significance: These are features representative of smaller areas in a region,
eg. the Ovens Valley. Such sites are usually related to an area of a local municipality or an
area with a radius of 20km. A typical example is the Stony Creek Road cuttings at Halls
Gap where there is a good exposure that shows the relationship of igneous rocks to the
main body of the Grampians Group sediments.
• Unknown Significance: Sites are assigned this rating if there is insufficient data to
allow a complete assessment to be made. Typically these sites are either under
investigation or subject to continual change eg. active quarry faces.
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
16
Appendix 2 Geological Sites of Significance in the VEAC Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation Area
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
MELBOURNE
ML 011
Dry CreekMaribyrnong River
junction
Quaternary fossil
site
Keilor
Brimbank
NAT
M
Stream
Reserve
309450
5824820
Geological sections along stream banks and in quarries
show a sequence through Silurian sediments, Tertiary
sediments and both older and Newer Volcanics. The
valleys contain 2 main terraces which contain significant
archaeological material. The older alluvial material,
known as the Arundel Formation (older than ~25,000
years), contains megafauna whilst a human cranium and
stone artefact assemblage have been found in the
younger Doutta Galla Silt (< 25,000 to 6,000 years). The
cranium is dated around 15,000±2,000 years BP using
Carbon 14. Significant information on Pleistocene
climates has been determined.
A number of detailed studies have
been carried out at this site which
have made a valuable contribution
to the understanding of the
regional Pleistocene prehistory
and palaeoclimate. The cranium
was once the oldest dated human
remains in Victoria. The site is
now degraded by gullying, bank
instability and weed invasion.
The geological sections that are
stable (not in danger of collapse
or slumping) should be retained.
Advice on conservation of
significant archaeological features
at the site should be obtained.
The bank instability, gullying and
weed invasion should be
addressed.
Anderson 1972; Gill
1973; Gallus 1976;
Jenkin 1976; Joyce &
Anderson 1976;
Jenkin et al. 1988;
Mitchell et al 2000;
Rosengren 1986
ML 012
Green Gully
(Taylors Creek)
Keilor
Brimbank
State
M
Other
reserve
308800
5822000
The creek is incised through late Cainozoic Newer
Volcanics basalt, exposing underlying Tertiary sediments
and Older Volcanics basalt. A local disconformity
separates the Tertiary bryozoal calcarenite (Batesfordian)
from overlying fossiliferous ferruginous sand. Quaternary
terraces occur at the junction with the Maribyrnong River.
Within the Doutta Galla Silt of the Keilor Terrace, human
bones estimated to be 8,000 years BP (Carbon 14) have
been found.
Good stratigraphic exposures
within a managed park system
(Brimbank Park) make this a
potentially excellent teaching site.
The sedimentology of the Doutta
Galla Silt has been well studied
and good age control and
paleaoclimatic information is
available.
The physiographic importance of
the terrace sequences has been
reduced by the amount of
excavation and site disturbance.
Advice on conservation of
significant archaeological features
and their geological setting at the
site should be obtained and acted
upon.
Bowler 1970; Gill
1973; Lawrence et al.
1976; Jenkin et al.
1988; Mitchell et al
2000
ML 016
Organ Pipes (The)
Sydenham
Hume /
Brimbank
State
L
National
Park,
Utilities
and
Services
303000
5828900
Incision of Jacksons Creek has exposed a variety of
features in the late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics which
overlie Tertiary sand and gravel, and Palaeozoic bedrock.
The Organ Pipes are a spectacular example of columnar
jointing which developed as the basalts cooled. The
columns are both vertical and inclined and in an adjacent
cliff section have formed a rosette. Other volcanic
features at this locality include a tessellated pavement,
spheroidal weathering and an eroded scoria cone. The
volcanics at this site are part of the basaltic icelandite
field which extends from Diggers Rest to Williamstown
(2.5 - 2.8 Ma).
Regular pruning/removal of
vegetation which obscured the
geological features is needed.
Continued improvement of
interpretation material on
geological features is desired.
Sympathetic management for
geological values is needed at the
Organ Pipes.
James 1920;
Rosengren
1986;Joshi &
Atkinson 1988; Birch
1994; Price et al.
1988;1997; Mitchell et
al. 2000
ML 018
Breakneck Hill
cutting No. 1
Toolern
Vale
Melton
Reg
S
Utilities
and
Services
285500
5839000
The road cutting exposes Upper Ordovician sandstone
and mudstone of the Riddell Sandstone. The sandstone
shows ripple marks and graded bedding. Black shales
and mudstones contain abundant fossils (graptolites).
These beds are almost vertical and the sandstones show
gash veins which are filled by secondary quartz.
An excellent example of columnar
basalt and other volcanic features
exposed in attractive natural
surroundings. A good teaching
site because of the range of
volcanic features, exposure of the
local geology and accessibility.
The Organ Pipes National Park
protects not only the geological
features described here, but also
the largest and least modified
area of volcanic plains grasslands
and shrublands to the west of
Melbourne.
Good example of local geology.
Used as an excursion locality.
ML 019
Breakneck Hill
cutting No. 2
Toolern
Vale
Melton
Reg
M
Utilities
and
Services
285400
5839350
At this location a palaeosol developed on Ordovician
sediments shows the effects of baking and bleaching by
overlying late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics basalt. The
basalt shows deep and excellent spheroidal weathering.
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Good example of relationships of
local rock units and weathering.
Used as an excursion locality.
Joshi & Atkinson
1988; Mitchell et al
2000
Joshi & Atkinson
1988; Mitchell et al
2000
17
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
ML 036
Djerriwarrh Creek
(Western Highway
cuttings)
Melton
Melton
ML 039
Gellibrand Hill
Westmead
ows
ML 042
Royal Park
Railway Station
cutting
ML 050
ML 051
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Reg
M
Utilities
and
Services
281000
5826000
Towards the western end of this cutting, folded
Ordovician basement is exposed revealing interesting
features including numerous faults showing flexure and
displacement of bedding. Approximately 30 m from the
western end, a shale bed defines a tight anticline with a
well-developed divergent cleavage fan. Tension veining
also occurs on the limbs of this fold. . The Ordovician
sediments are overlain by Tertiary Werribee Formation
clay, sand and gravel with carbonate concretions. The
thickness of the Tertiary unit is difficult to determine
because of weathering but may be up to three metres in
some places. Newer Volcanics basaltic lava flows of late
Cainozoic age overlie the Tertiary material and form
extensive plains to the east. Towards the eastern end of
the cutting, a structure that has the appearance of a small
reverse fault in the Tertiary has produced a kink in the
base of the overlying basalt flow. Pliocene gravel, clay
and sand show cross-bedding, and cut and fill structures.
The stratigraphic relationships of
the Ordovician, Tertiary and
Newer Volcanics are well exposed
in this cutting as is the complex
folding in the Ordovician
sediments. The site was for many
years used for teaching purposes,
but access to the eastern half of
the cutting is now dangerous due
to the freeway.
Singleton 1973b;
Joyce & King 1980;
Rosengren 1986;
Schleiger 1995;
Mitchell et al 2000
Hume
Local
M
Utilities
and
Services
312500
5830400
Large tors of Devonian Bulla Adamellite containing a
variety of xenoliths occur at the top of Gellibrand Hill.
Granite from this area, due to its close proximity to
Melbourne, was used in the first Princes Bridge. The
nearby homestead, now managed by Parks Victoria,
used blocks of adamellite as construction material.
Gellibrand Hill is one of the few high points from which
the whole district can be viewed. During the eruption of
the late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics it remained exposed
as an 'island'.
A good example of a common
granitic feature.
Stillwell 1911;
Rosengren 1986;
Joshi & Atkinson
1988; Mitchell et al
2000; Education
Department Victoria
1985
Royal Park
Melbourne
Reg
M
Other
reserve
319650
5816500
Steeply dipping sandstone and mudstone of the Silurian
Dargile Formation are overlain with angular unconformity
by coarse grained sandstone of the Tertiary Brighton
Group. An iron stained soil with buckshot gravel has
developed on the latter unit.
Plenty River
Gorge
Plenty
Whittlesea
Local
L
Other
reserve
332600
5830500
The gorge on the Plenty River exposes an anticline in
Silurian sedimentary rocks and the contact with the
overlying Plio-Pleistocene Newer Volcanics basalt.
In conjunction with the southern
railway cutting (ML 69), this is one
of the traditional teaching sites for
earth science in Melbourne. At
this site the nature and
relationship of Palaeozoic and
Tertiary sediments in Victoria are
clearly displayed.
Good educational site showing
structure and relationship of local
rock units.
Grimshaw Street
cuttings
Greensbor
ough
Banyule
Local
S
Utilities
and
Services
332000
5825180
On the south side of Grimshaw Street, east of the
junction with Greensborough Road, an angular
unconformity between Tertiary sands and underlying
Silurian bedrock is exposed.
Singleton 1923; Bell
et al. 1967;Talent
1967; Pritchard 1974;
Joyce & King 1980;
Mitchell et al 2000;
Education
Department Victoria
1985
Anon. 1891; Jutson
1909; Joyce & King
1980; Mitchell et al
2000; Education
Department Victoria
1985
Mitchell et al 2000
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
This is an accessible site that
displays aspects of the local
geology.
Management - International /
National / State only
References
18
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
ML 052
Studley Park
Pumping Station
track cuttings
Kew
Boroondara
Reg
M
Other
reserve
324150
5814310
While the Silurian Dargile Formation (also known as
Melbourne Formation) is generally folded into broad open
folds, these cuttings reveal a range of geological features
in a zone of intense folding and faulting. Features shown
include: joints sets that have developed parallel and
perpendicular to bedding and are often infilled with
limonite (iron oxide and hydroxide) deposited from
groundwater moving through the rocks; faults that run
parallel to the beds and often truncate bedding,
commonly at the axis of folds; drag of beds against fault
planes, and fault planes with slickensides that reveal the
direction of fault movement; crumpled bedding due to
faulting; mudstone that has deformed plastically
(incompetent) in comparison to the more rigid
(competent) sandstones; asymmetric anticlinal and
synclinal folds; fine grained sediments containing fossils
such as graptolites, brachiopods, starfish and marine
algae; and hillside creep where slow downhill movement
of rock and soil has bent the rocks.
This is an excellent series of
exposures in a small area with
good and safe access. The
cuttings allow inspection of typical
structural features that affect the
Silurian-Devonian sediments of
the Melbourne region. These
exposures are one of the best
examples of these features in the
region and form an important part
of the classic Studley Park
localities. These and nearby
localities at Studley Park (e.g. ML
55) have been fundamental for the
teaching of elements of structural
geology and sedimentology in the
Melbourne region for over 100
years.
Hauser 1923; Jones
1927; Hills 1941; Bell
et al. 1967; Webb
1988; Mitchell et al
2000; Education
Department Victoria
1985
ML 053
Oaklands Road
cutting
Oaklands
Junction
Hume
Local
S
Utilities
and
Services
309250
5835500
Contact metamorphosed sediments of Silurian age are
exposed in this road cutting. Devonian granitic rocks to
the south are responsible for the contact metamorphism.
A road cutting exposing a feature
that is common in Victoria.
Mitchell et al 2000;
Education
Department Victoria
1985
ML 055
Dights Falls
Kew
Boroondara
& Yarra
Reg
S
Other
reserve
323900
5814700
A resistant band of Dargile Formation sandstone of Upper
Silurian age has created a small waterfall in the Yarra
River. Interbedded sandstone and siltstone outcrop in the
embankment with further exposures on the top of the
small spur overlooking the falls. On the eastern side of an
anticlinal fold, the bedding planes dip to the east at 60 to
65 degrees. Sedimentary features include cross-bedding
and planar lamination. On the top of the spur, broad
areas of bedding planes that display ripple marks are
exposed.
This is a good exposure of a
geological unit that outcrops
widely in the Melbourne region. It
is regularly used as a teaching
and excursion locality in
conjunction with the Studley Park
Pumping Station track cutting (ML
52).
Cooney & King 1988;
Webb 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
ML
055.01
Merri Creek/Yarra
River confluence
and digitate delta.
Clifton Hill
Yarra
Reg
S
Other
reserve
324100
5814900
At the confluence of the Merri Creek and Yarra River, a
deltaic deposit of clay, silt, sand and gravel has extended
the course of the Merri Creek into the channel of the
Yarra River just upstream of Dights Falls.
Rosengren 1993
ML 063
Yarra Boulevard
unconformity
Kew
Boroondara
& Yarra
Local
S
Other
reserve
324650
5813900
Flat-lying sand and gravel of the Pliocene Brighton Group
can be seen overlying folded Silurian sediments. The
boundary or unconformity represents a time break of
approximately 400 million years.
This is a very disturbed site.
Although a small deltaic form can
still be discerned, the context of
the site has been lost as a result
of the Freeway engineering works
This unconformity is well exposed
at a number of better localities in
the Melbourne region.
ML 064
Yarra Boulevard
cuttings
Kew
Boroondara
& Yarra
Local
M
Other
reserve
325300
5813900
A series of long and high cuttings in the Silurian Dargile
Formation showing the typical lithology and structural
style of Lower Palaeozoic sediments of the Melbourne
region. In particular, numerous low angle reverse faults
clearly displace the various sandstones, mudstones and
dykes.
These cuttings are a good
example of features in a
widespread rock unit well exposed
at numerous localities in the
Melbourne region.
Hills 1975; Cooney &
King 1988; Mitchell et
al 2000
ML 068
Yarra Bend
Kew
Boroondara
& Yarra
Local
M
Other
reserve
324560
5814580
Opposite the access road to Corben Oval, cliffs of late
Cainozoic Newer Volcanics basalt are exposed on the
west side of the Yarra River. The basalt is probably part
of the Burnley Basalt Flow which has been radiometrically
dated near Alphington at ~0.8 Ma (see ML 142 & 179),
however other measurements indicate an age of 0.930.96 Ma.
This is an average example of a
feature that is common in central
and western Victoria.
McDougall et al 1966;
Cooney & King 1988;
Price et al 1997 ;
Mitchell et al 2000
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Cooney & King 1988;
Webb 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
19
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
ML 069
Southern railway
cutting, Royal
Park
Royal Park
Melbourne
Reg
M
Other
reserve
318840
5815850
Tertiary sands unconformably overlie very weathered
Miocene basalt of the Older Volcanics. The clayey sands
immediately above the basalt contain Middle Miocene
bivalves and gastropods. These Middle Miocene
sediments are overlain disconformably by cross-bedded
coarse sandstone containing occasional Late Miocene Early Pliocene bivalves and gastropods as well as leaves
and fruit.
In conjunction with the Royal Park
Railway Station cutting (ML 42)
this is one of the traditional
teaching sites for geology in
Melbourne. The site displays
palaeo-landsurfaces, weathering,
fossils, an unconformity and a
disconformity.
Webb 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
ML 070
Eastern Freeway
cutting (basalt)
Studley
Park
Boroondara
& Yarra
Local
M
Utilities
and
Services
324600
5815150
Excellent exposures of Newer Volcanics basalt occur on
both sides of the freeway. Rough columnar jointing is
present. This basaltic flow is probably part of the Burnley
Basalt Flow (~0.8 Ma; see also ML 68, 142, 179, 377 &
376).
McDougall et al 1966;
Hobbs 1988; Price et
al 1997; Mitchell et al
2000
ML 072
Dry Creek
anticline
Kew East
Boroondara
Local
M
Other
reserve
328100
5815500
An anticline in the Silurian Dargile Formation is exposed
in cuttings on the north side of the freeway. Weathered
dykes of Tertiary age have been bricked in to stop
erosion.
Although the exposures are good,
their location on a freeway, where
only emergency parking is
allowed, means that it is not
possible to stop at the site. There
are numerous other good
exposures of basalt in
metropolitan Melbourne.
Exposures of folded Silurian
sediments are common in
Victoria. The freeway restricts
access to this locality.
ML 074
Eastern Freeway
cutting
(sandstone)
Bellvue
Bellevue
Manningha
m
Local
S
Utilities
and
Services
330500
5816560
Silurian sandstones of the Andersons Creek Formation
are folded into an anticline which is exposed on the north
side of the Eastern Freeway.
Folds in Silurian-Devonian
sediment are a common feature in
central Victoria. This cutting is an
average example of an anticline.
Hobbs 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
ML 075
Tram RoadWhittens Lane
cuttings
Doncaster
Manningha
m
Local
S
Utilities
and
Services
334980
5815040
Thinly bedded sandstones and shales of the Silurian
Dargile Formation are exposed in Tram Road and in an
eroded gutter on the northwest side of Whittens Lane.
Cross-bedded current ripples are present in the
sandstones. Jointing is well developed.
Exposures of common features.
Hobbs 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
ML 078
Victoria Street
cuttings
Doncaster
Manningha
m
Reg
M
Utilities
and
Services
336560
5817000
The site shows a small syncline in the Silurian Dargile
Formation. The syncline is one of a number of parasitic or
drag folds that have developed on the limb of a much
broader fold. About 70 m to the north a fault disrupts the
sediments. The strike of the fault is east-west and the
vertical movement may be south-side down. Horizontal
movement may also be involved. Jointing, differential
weathering and variable soil profile are also displayed.
An instructive site that is used as
an excursion locality.
Hobbs 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
ML 081
Newmans RoadPorter Street
cuttings
Templesto
we
Manningha
m
Reg
M
Utilities
and
Services
336900
5819660
A series of cuttings in the Silurian Dargile Formation
display sedimentary features (ripple marks, current
bedded sandstone, laminated shales), faults, quartz
veins, slickensides on bedding planes and a plunging
anticline.
This site has a variety of
sedimentological and structural
features and is a useful teaching
site.
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 083
Picnic Point
Sandringh
am
Bayside
Local
S
Other
reserve
323800
5798100
An emerged shore platform in upper Miocene ferruginous
Black Rock Sandstone lies ~2.6 m above mean low water
spring tide level. In the past a rich pelecypod and bivalve
fauna has been collected from an overlying raised beach
deposit or shell bed.
The shell bed has been disturbed
and therefore its value is reduced.
Gill 1950a;
VandenBerg 1973;
Jenkin 1976; Mitchell
et al 2000; LCC 1993
ML 088
Somerton tuff
outcrop
Somerton
Hume
Reg
S
Other
reserve
319780
5832700
An outcrop occurs on the eastern bank of the Merri Creek
at Somerton which shows late Cainozoic Newer
Volcanics basalt overlain by alluvial channel deposits of
conglomerate and ash/tuff base surge deposits from a
maar.
This is the first recorded
occurrence of base surge maar
material in an area characterised
by basalt flows and scoria cones.
The outcrop is unusual in that the
regional geology does not suggest
a ready supply of groundwater for
phreatomagmatic - maar type
eruptions.
Faul et al 1994;
Mitchell et al 2000;
Rosengren 1993
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Hobbs 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
20
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
ML 097
Reynolds Road
cutting (West of
Mullum Mullum
Creek)
Templesto
we
Manningha
m
Local
S
Utilities
and
Services
339900
5818650
Sandstones and shales of the Silurian Anderson Creek
Formation are strongly jointed and cut by quartz veins.
Limonite is concentrated along joints and bedding planes,
in places forming a prominent boxwork. Differential
weathering between shales and sandstone, and hillside
creep are also observable.
The cutting exposes geological
features common in the
Melbourne area.
Hobbs 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
ML 098
Reynolds Road
cutting (E of
Mullum Mullum
Creek)
Templesto
we
Manningha
m
Local
M
Utilities
and
Services
340500
5818640
The Tunstall Syncline developed in the Silurian Anderson
Creek Formation is exposed in this road cutting. Quartz
veins and a weathered dyke are also present.
The cutting displays geological
features common in the
Melbourne area.
Hobbs 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
ML 099
Maroondah
Highway cutting
(opposite Alice
Street)
Croydon
Maroondah
Local
S
Utilities
and
Services
348500
5816800
Thinly-bedded sandstone and shale of the Silurian
Dargile Formation outcrop on the eastern limb of the
Ringwood Anticline. Kink folds and west dipping normal
faults occur.
The cutting is a good exposure of
a common feature in the
Melbourne area.
Hobbs 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000; Education
Department Victoria
1985
ML 125
Glenvale cuttings
(Whittlesea to
Upper Plenty)
Whittlesea
Whittlesea
Local
S
Utilities
and
Services
331000
5852000
A number of features are of interest in the cuttings
including Silurian beds showing small-scale transverse
faults and folding on an anticlinorium. Of geomorphic
interest are Pleistocene-Recent high-level terraces along
Bruce and Yarra creeks.
Silurian sediments are widespread
in the Melbourne Trough and
exposures are common. These
exposures demonstrate aspects of
the local geology.
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 127
Wellington Road
cutting
Rowville
Knox
Local
S
Utilities
and
Services
344860
5800800
Shale of the Lower Devonian Humevale Formation is
intruded by a basalt dyke probably of Tertiary age.
ML 129
Bulla kaolin pit
No.2
Bulla
Hume
Reg
S
Previous
Mining;
Utilities
and
Services
306200
5832800
The abandoned quarry in Devonian Bulla Adamellite
shows a progression from fresh granite at the base to
strongly weathered at the top. The igneous texture is still
retained in the weathered material with quartz and
cordierite crystals scattered through a kaolin matrix
derived from weathered feldspar. The kaolin has
developed from deep weathering, probably during the
Late Cretaceous and into the early Tertiary. There are
two small quarries in similar material along the track a
short distance to the north. The adamellite is overlain by
Quaternary basalt.
Good outcrop of a common
feature in the Melbourne Trough
and is used as an excursion
locality.
The quarrying has provided the
best exposure in the region of the
development of residual kaolin on
granite. Kaolin is a high value
industrial mineral and the area
offers potential for further kaolin
deposits.
Hobbs 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000; Education
Department Victoria
1985
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000;
Education
Department Victoria
1985
ML 130
Wellington Road
cutting
Mulgrave
Monash
Reg
M
Utilities
and
Services
340940
5801040
Thinly bedded sandstone and siltstone of the Lower
Devonian Dargile Formation are unconformably overlain
by sand and gravel of the Tertiary Red Bluff Sand
Formation.
This outcrop provides a clear
example of the relationship of two
of the main units in the region. It is
used as an excursion locality.
Hobbs 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
ML 133
Elizabeth Street
cuttings
Coburg
Moreland
Local
S
Utilities
and
Services
322000
5820900
Folded Upper Silurian beds have been faulted with the
rocks on the north side of the fault showing a N-S trend,
and those south of the fault an E-W trend. In the thicker
sandstones, laminar beds are overlain by ripple drift
foreset beds. Iron oxide has been extensively deposited
along joints with some boxwork development. Two middle
Tertiary dolerite dykes, now highly weathered, have
intruded the sediments along fault zones.
Used as a teaching locality as it is
the only easily accessed exposure
of Silurian bedrock in this area.
Schleiger 1988;
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 142
Rockbeare Park
Ivanhoe
Banyule
Reg
M
Stream
Reserve
326760
5817380
A range of features are of interest at this locality including
an exposure of Silurian bedrock in a cliff section along
Darebin Creek and a contact with the overlying
Quaternary Newer Volcanics basalt. Radiometric dating
of the olivine basalt from the nearby Alphington basalt
quarry (now largely infilled) range in age from 0.77 to
0.83 Ma indicating that this is the youngest Newer
Volcanics flow in the Melbourne area (also see ML 68).
The flow extends south through Richmond and is known
as the Burnley Basalt Flow which extends along the Yarra
River and to the Yarra Delta. The source is probably
Hayes Hill near Donnybrook (ML 179). The flood plain
with meander is of geomorphic interest.
A range of features displaying
elements of the regional geology
makes this a useful excursion
locality.
McDougall et al 1966;
Jenkin et al. 1988;
Price et al. 1988;
1997; Mitchell et al
2000
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
21
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
ML 165
Bulla Adamellite
(Somerton Road)
Greenvale
Hume
Local
S
Other
reserve
316000
5832100
This rock is part of the outer zone of the Devonian Bulla
Adamellite. Numerous very large broken boulders occur
on the northern side of Somerton Road and on private
land immediately to the north. The adamellite is mid-grey
in colour and contains a large variety of xenoliths. These
include, dark angular to rounded fragments of layered
metasedimentary rock, biotite clots, mottled white and
grey quartz-biotite-plagioclase inclusions, and dark grey
fine-grained cordierite and garnet and garnet-bearing
inclusions.
Good exposures of a common
local rock type.
Joshi & Atkinson
1988; Mitchell et al
2000; Rosengren
1986
ML 167
Werribee River
delta sediments
Werribee
South
Wyndham
Reg
M
Other
reserve
296850
5794400
At the mouth of the Werribee River is an eroded deltaic
shoreline with low cliffs cut into alluvial clays and sandy
clays.
This is one of the few sites where
sections of the upper parts of the
delta sediment can be seen.
ML 168
Altona sand
ridges
Altona
Wyndham
Reg
M
Other
reserve
307000
5805400
Holocene parallel shelly sand ridges overlie emerged
shell beds. The shell beds are about 2.4 m thick and
contain only species still existing. The ridges reach a
maximum height above present low-water mark of 3.7 m
and are probably wind-modified beach ridges.
One of a number of sites around
Port Phillip Bay providing
evidence of a Holocene higher
sea level.
Condon 1951; Bowler
1966; Rosengren
1986; Mitchell et al
2000
Hills 1940a; Jenkin
1976; Rosengren
1986; Mitchell et al
2000; LCC 1993
ML 169
Williamstown
foreshore
Williamsto
wn
Hobsons
Bay
Reg
L
Other
reserve
315100
5806100
A low sea cliff marks the edge of a late Cainozoic Newer
Volcanics basalt plain and below this and extending to
the shoreline is a raised shore platform in basalt. The
platform is grassed and covered with loose boulders and
not normally subject to wave attack. Marine shells occur
in black soil on the platform. A small eroded lava blister
indicates that this is an abrasion platform rather than an
original surface. Along the foreshore, exposures of a
number of structural features and flow forms may be
observed.
The basalt platform is of unusual
form and along with the low cliff
and shell deposits inland, could be
taken to be evidence for a former,
slightly higher sea level.
Hills 1940a;
Rosengren 1986;
Rosengren 1988;
Mitchell et al 2000;
LCC 1993
ML 170
Red Bluff
Sandringh
am
Bayside
Reg
M
Other
reserve
325120
5796100
The cliff exposes the type section for the Red Bluff Sand
and the underlying Black Rock Sandstone which together
comprise the Tertiary Brighton Group. Only the top 3 m of
the Black Rock Sandstone is exposed here and consists
of a fine sandstone at the base of the bluff. The overlying
Red Bluff Sand is a clayey-sand and gravel with some
cross-bedding. Erosion of the Red Bluff Sand has
produced badlands topography.
Type section for two widespread
Tertiary rocks in the Melbourne
Region. The contact between the
two formations of the Brighton
Group is exposed. It is one of the
few remaining examples of the
formerly active coastal cliffs in the
northeast of Port Phillip Bay.
ML 171
Black Rock Point
Black Rock
Bayside
Reg
M
Other
reserve
325130
5795700
Cliffs developed in Red Bluff Sand and rilled by rainwash
are fronted by a platform developed on the harder
ferruginous Black Rock Sandstone. Both formations
belong to the Tertiary Brighton Group. The cliff sections
show a variety of geological features, including the
contact between the Black Rock Sandstone and the
younger Red Bluff Sand, and laterite weathering features
probably dating from Neogene times.
The site compliments Red Bluff
(ML 170) as it provides a good
vantage point to view the bluff
while also allowing better and
safer access to the excellent
exposure of the contact between
the Black Rock Sandstone and
the Red Bluff Sand.
Hart 1893; Hall &
Pritchard 1897a; Gill
1957; Kenley 1967;
Bird et al 1973;
VandenBerg 1973;
Pritchard 1976; Joyce
& King 1980; King et
al 1987; Rosengren
1988
Gill 1957; Bird 1972;
Bird et al 1973; Abele
1976; King et al 1987;
Rosengren 1988;
Mitchell et al 2000;
LCC 1993
ML 172
Bridge Inn Road
cutting
Mernda
Whittlesea
Local
S
Other
reserve
330130
5836800
The cutting has exposed interbedded sandstone, siltstone
and mudstone of the Dargile Formation of Silurian age.
Beds average 10 cm in thickness. Fine lamination and
cross bedding is present. A yellow sodic duplex soil, with
three distinct horizons is well developed on top of the
cutting.
A typical example of features
observed in an extensive and
widely exposed unit.
White 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
ML 176
Hunters Lane
cutting
Mernda
Whittlesea
Local
S
Other
reserve
330750
5834100
The cutting has exposed hornfels and quartzite of the
Devonian Morang Adamellite contact metamorphic
aureole. The rocks are recrystallized Lower Devonian
Dargile Formation with fine cross-bedding preserved in
the laminated hornfels.
An exposure of a very common
rock type and phenomena.
White 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
22
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
ML 182
Radio Tower Hill
Mernda
Whittlesea
Local
M
Other
reserve
330620
5834500
Outcrops of the marginal phase of the Devonian Morang
Adamellite occur near the radio tower. K-feldspar (>8 cm)
are set in a ground mass of quartz, plagioclase, Kfeldspar, biotite and other minerals. A few aplite dykes
intersect the adamellite.
Numerous outcrops of granite
such as at this locality occur
widely in Victoria.
ML 190
Taylors Creek
silcrete cave
(NW-2)
Keilor
Brimbank
NAT
M
Other
reserve
307600
5824100
Taylors Creek flows through a small cave beneath a
silcrete unit developed in Pliocene fluviatile sediments.
The sediments are overlain by late Cainozoic Newer
Volcanics basalt. The remobilisation of silica by
groundwater and redeposition of this silica as silcrete
directly beneath a basalt flow is a common feature in
Victoria. A well exposed section is available for study.
This is an unusual stream cave,
and the only one known of its kind
in Victoria.
ML 211
McArthurs Road
cutting
Mernda
Whittlesea
Local
S
Other
reserve
331750
5834150
Small outcrops and loose boulders of fresh late Cainozoic
Newer Volcanics vesicular basalt are exposed on both
sides of the road.
Although this is a poor example of
a very common rock type, this site
is used as an excursion locality.
White 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
ML 212
Plenty Road
cutting (Red Bluff
Sand)
Mill Park
Whittlesea
Local
S
Other
reserve
329800
5829400
Poorly developed beds of grit, sand and sandy clay of the
Pliocene Red Bluff Sands are exposed.
Average exposure of a widely
occurring rock unit. This site is
used as an excursion locality.
White 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
ML 213
Plenty Road
cutting (Newer
Volcanics)
Bundoora
Whittlesea
Reg
S
Other
reserve
329600
5827100
Partially weathered dark grey basalt boulders overlie
deeply weathered basalt showing onion skin weathering
and undulating layering. Both flows belong to the late
Cainozoic Newer Volcanics.
Good outcrops showing
relationships between two basalt
flows. This site is used as an
excursion locality.
White 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
ML 214
Coburg Lake
Reserve (basalt
outcrop)
Coburg
Moreland
Reg
M
Other
reserve
320720
5821680
Several late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics basalt flows
outcrop on the western bank of the Lake Reserve. The
lowest layer is ropey lava of pahoehoe type basalt. The
remainder of the basalt is massive and vesicular. In
places the vesicles are elongated due to movement of
lava while it was consolidating. Some vesicles contain
secondary calcite and aragonite. The basalt is well
jointed. To the south, a radiometric age of ~2.2 Ma has
been obtained from an extension of this flow.
These relatively good outcrops
are used as teaching and
excursion sites together with sites
ML 215, 216 and 217. As a group
the sites are of regional
significance.
Schleiger 1988; Price
et al 1997; Mitchell et
al 2000; Rosengren
1993
ML 215
Coburg Lake
Reserve (eastern
bank)
Coburg
Moreland
Reg
S
Other
reserve
321840
5821760
Silurian mudstone and siltstone dipping at 20 degrees
west are overlain by late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics
basalt. The basalt and Silurian rocks are separated by a
pre-basaltic soil. The basalt shows crude columnar and
flat platy jointing which formed as the basalt cooled.
Spheroidal weathering and the deposition of white
magnesium carbonate along joints by weathering are
present.
Individually this is a very common
geological feature. This locality
together with localities ML 214,
216 and 217 is used as an
excursion site. As a group the
sites are of regional significance.
Schleiger 1988;
Mitchell et al 2000
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
White 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000
The site is threatened by urban
development and degradation of
Taylors Creek. Up until nearby
residential building occurred, the
site was protected by its relative
isolation but it is now surrounded
by housing and properties back
onto the upper valley slopes. The
features of the site can tolerate
visitor use, but the quality of the
site will deteriorate rapidly if water
quality continues to decline and
refuse continues to accumulate.
An active management policy
should be maintained to ensure
decrease degradation of the site.
Delineation of a public reserve for
informal open space activities
without facilities would be an
appropriate use for the site.
Adjacent property owners should
be informed of the significance of
the site and encouraged to
participate in its conservation.
Liaison with the Victorian
Speleological Association would
be valuable for its speleological
values.
Joyce 1983; Joyce et
al 1983; Webb &
Joyce 1983; Davey &
White 1986;
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
23
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
ML 216
De Chene
Reserve
(tessellated
pavement)
Coburg
Moreland
Reg
S
Other
reserve
321900
5821070
A cross section of tessellated pavement of irregular
jointed columnar Newer Volcanics basalt of Quaternary
age is exposed.
ML 217
De Chene
Reserve (quarry) lava flow features.
Coburg
Moreland
Reg
S
Other
reserve
322300
5821100
The disused quarry shows a transverse section of a late
Cainozoic Newer Volcanics lava tongue. The dip of the
joints indicating the directions that the lava moved.
Weathering of the basalt has produced rounded
corestones and some joints are partly filled with
secondary minerals such as limonite and magnesite. The
blocking of the ancient valleys by this lava resulted in a
lake forming upstream in Edgars Creek which partly filled
with sediment. Edgars Creek has since then cut into this
sediment and eroded a wide floodplain near the junction
of Merri Creek.
ML 223
Maribyrnong River
terraces
Avondale
Heights
Moonee
Valley
Reg
S
Other
reserve
312000
5817350
The site includes a terrace and part of the floodplain of
the Maribyrnong River.
ML 232
Essendon West
Tertiary sediment
Essendon
Moonee
Valley
Local
M
Other
reserve
313700
5819000
The river cliffs at this site expose upper Tertiary Red Bluff
Sand resting on weathered basalt of the Palaeogene
Older Volcanics. Cross-bedded pale yellow to red sand
and clay of the Red Bluff Sand are well exposed in a
small abandoned quarry. The basalt outcrops at river
level.
ML 233
Exford cutting
Exford
Melton
Reg
S
Other
reserve
286700
5819300
ML 236
Jacksons Creek
(Ordovician and
Newer Volcanics)
Sunbury
Hume
Reg
M
Other
reserve
300700
ML 246
Altona East sand
bars
Altona
Hobsons
Bay
Reg
M
Other
reserve
306350
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
Individually this is a very common
geological feature. However,
when considered with ML 214,
215 and 217 the locality is of
regional significance.
Individually this is a very common
geological feature. However,
when considered with ML 214,
215 and 216 the locality is of
regional significance as these
sites are used for excursions.
Schleiger 1988;
Mitchell et al 2000;
Rosengren 1993
River terraces and flood plains are
common features in Victoria and
elsewhere, but many are modified
by urban development. This level
terrain is a relatively unmodified
example of the terraces that occur
along the Maribyrnong River.
The site provides a clear exposure
of some of the upper Tertiary
sedimentary formations overlying
the early Tertiary Older Volcanics
basalt.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
The road cutting exposes a weathered augite basalt of
the Quaternary Exford Volcanics, unconformably overlain
by a gravel of well rounded clasts. The larger clasts are of
quartz and sandstone up to 10 cm long and there are
occasionally basalt pebbles at the base of the gravel. The
unit is thicker at the western end thinning eastward.
Above the gravel is a cohesive red sandy/silty alluvium
containing irregular calcareous nodules.
The site is a good example of an
unconformity and shows the
different regimes that have
operated on areas of the plains
that are unrelated to present
stream activity.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
5834400
The site includes a substantial exposure of Ordovician
rocks overlain by late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics. On the
southern side of the channel in the undercut cliff, the
structure of the steeply dipping Ordovician sedimentary
rocks and the contact between the formations is well
displayed. The black shale beds in the Ordovician
sequence contain graptolite fossils.
The well exposed contact zone,
river cliffs, fossil localities,
depositional features and the
several types of valley slopes
make the site a considerable
educational resource.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
5800400
The site includes the intertidal and submarine topography
of part of northern Port Phillip Bay. The coastline is sandy
with occasional Newer Volcanic basalt boulders, while
offshore a 500 m wide belt of sand bars lie roughly
parallel to the coastline. The bars are of low amplitude
(20-40 cm) with broad flattened crests spaced from 15 to
30 m apart. There are about 20 bars in the entire
sequence, the outer bars are sub-parallel and regular
with some individual bars extending unbroken for 400 600 m. The outer edge of the bar system terminates
abruptly with the sandy bars resting on submerged
basalt. There appears to be little or no sand accumulating
past this edge.
This system forms a major
component of the complex of
sandy onshore and offshore
accumulation features.
Rosengren 1986;
1988; Mitchell et al
2000; LCC 1993
Schleiger 1988;
Mitchell et al 2000;
Rosengren 1993
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
24
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
ML 247
Point Cook
coastal ridges
Point Cook
Wyndham
Reg
M
Other
reserve
306570
5800450
The point is an outcrop of late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics
basalt buried by sand, shell and gravel. There is one
prominent sand ridge about 150 m inland. In front of this
are lower hummocky ridges behind a wide beach of
shelly sand.
ML 248
Point Cook
parallel sand
ridges
Point Cook
Hobsons
Bay
Reg
M
Other
reserve
306350
5800400
Southwest from Point Cook is a zone of sand ridges 250
m wide that completely encloses a former embayment or
depression in basalt of the late Cainozoic Newer
Volcanics. The ridges are basically wave-built features
consisting of sand, shells and rounded basalt pebbles in
the lower parts. The swales lie above the water table and
hence there is no salt marsh development.
ML 249
Altona Meadows
active sand spits
Altona
Hobsons
Bay
State
M
Other
reserve
307000
5803800
Several elongated, recurving sand spits extend
northwards from the mouth of Skeleton Creek. Strong
wave action generated by southerly winds is responsible
for the seaward trending spits travelling north. The offsets
or recurves at the ends of the spits are built landwards by
strong onshore easterlies.
The spits are one of the major
coastal sand bodies of Port Phillip
Bay and are an outstanding
example of a recurving sand spit
system.
ML 250
Kororoit Creek
floodplain
Rockbank
Melton
Local
S
Stream
Reserve
295000
5823800
Upstream of Beattys Road Bridge is a wide floodplain
with abandoned stream channels. Below the bridge, the
valley narrows and is incised into enclosing late
Cainozoic Newer Volcanics basalt flows. A small quarry
exposes a section through the basalt which shows strong
platy jointing.
The site illustrates the influence of
basalt flows on drainage patterns.
The features developed here are
common in the Newer Volcanics
Province.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 255
Skeleton Creek
consequent
stream (Altona)
Hoppers
Crossing
Wyndham
Local
M
Other
reserve
300000
5805000
Skeleton Creek is a consequent stream having its course
controlled by the margins of the late Cainozoic Werribee
Plain volcanics. The stream channel is weakly incised
and the stream gradient is low. Swampy alluvium has
infilled the channel.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 257
Steele Creek
terrace floodplain
Maribyrnong
Maribyrnong
Local
M
Other
reserve
313200
5819100
The site includes two terrace levels west of Steele Creek.
The higher terrace level represents the valley of the creek
when it entered the Maribyrnong River 500 m west of the
present junction. A narrow deltaic deposit has been built
at the present stream junction.
ML 259
Sunbury Municipal
Tip (basalt
sediment contact)
Sunbury
Hume
Reg
S
Other
reserve
295300
5841300
Within this operating tip, the contact between Ordovician
sediments and late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics can be
seen. The contact is very sharp and dips steeply towards
the north. The lowermost volcanic rock is a thin layer of
fragmental material possibly representing a minor
eruption pipe or dyke rather than a flow. It changes
abruptly above to a hard dense basalt.
ML 262
Tea Gardens
(Newer Volcanics)
Maribyrnong
Maribyrnong
Reg
S
Mining
Other
reserve
312300
5818000
The two abandoned quarries at this site show excellent
fresh sections in jointed basalt of the late Cainozoic
Newer Volcanics. The basalts contain large vesicles and
show flow features in many of the large cavities. The
underlying Tertiary Red Bluff Sand is pale coloured and
shows examples of cross bedding. The contact is clearly
exposed in the second quarry.
This site provides a good example
of a consequent stream
developed on volcanic plains. It
contrasts well with the strongly
incised Kororoit Creek valley.
Consequent streams are
numerous on the Newer Volcanics
of Victoria.
The site illustrates aspects of the
geomorphological history of the
Maribyrnong River valley and its
tributaries and includes fluvial
deposits from several stages of
valley development.
The contact is unusual in that
there is no baked soil on the
Ordovician rocks beneath the
volcanics. The exposure is very
clear and not obscured by slope
wash or soil. The site may
become obscured by waste
disposal activities.
The Tea Gardens section
provides good examples of a
range of volcanic features as well
as a good exposure of the local
stratigraphic relationships. It is
easily accessed and therefore a
good teaching locality.
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
This site demonstrates one of the
several different forms of sand
accumulation in the area. It is an
important site for determining the
sedimentary history of the
northwestern part of Port Phillip
Bay.
These sand ridges represent an
unusual phase of coastal
progradation and are important in
determining the sedimentary
history of this part of the bay.
References
Jutson 1931;
Rosengren 1986;
1988; Mitchell et al
2000
Jutson 1931; Condon
1951; McDougall
1986; Rosengren
1986; 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000; LCC 1993
The ridges should be subject to a
minimum of disturbance to allow
retention of their form and
vegetation. No sand or shell
extraction should be permitted
from either onshore or offshore
and no coastal engineering works
undertaken.
Jutson 1931; Bowler
1966; Rosengren
1986; 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000; LCC 1993
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
25
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
ML 263
Werribee River
terraces
Werribee
Wyndham
Local
M
Other
reserve
294500
5799900
The site includes Pleistocene alluvial sediments,
abandoned channels and terraces of the valley of the
Werribee River. Immediately south of the Maltby by-pass
bridge, the river channel is bordered on the east by a
narrow floodplain with flood chute scars, while behind this
is an older terrace 2-4 m high. To the west are cliffs in
alluvium of the Werribee Delta.
The site illustrates stages in the
development of alluvial features of
the lower Werribee River.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 265
Werribee River
knickpoint No. 1
Werribee
Wyndham
Local
M
Other
reserve
293200
5801800
The site provides examples of Quaternary terrace
deposits, sediments of the Werribee River delta (exposed
on the west of the valley), modern floodplain sediments
and late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics basalt outcropping in
the river channel. Prior to diversion works on the
Werribee River system, this site formed a definite
knickpoint in the stream. Rapids in the channel shaped
the outcropping basaltic rocks which are now very waterworn and show incipient pot holes and small gutters.
The site shows aspects of the
morphological and sedimentary
history of the Werribee River as
well as the influence on channel
form of reducing the rate of river
flow.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 266
Taylors Creek
(Newport
Formation)
Sunshine
Brimbank
Local
S
Utilities
and
Services
308000
5822000
Along the northern side of Taylors Creek, Miocene
fossiliferous ferruginous grits of the Newport Formation
(which include wood fragments) overlie basalts of the
early Tertiary Older Volcanics. Limestone and
diatomaceous deposits along the stream have now been
obscured by extensions of the Keilor Tip.
The site illustrates one of the most
inland exposures of the Newport
Formation. The significance of the
site has been greatly reduced by
the extensions to the tip in recent
years.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 268
Werribee River
prior stream
Werribee
Wyndham
Reg
L
Other
reserve
290300
5797300
This stream (Lollypop Creek) is an abandoned
distributary channel or prior stream of the system that fed
from the Werribee River to deposit the Pleistocene to
Recent of the Werribee River Delta.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 271
Sydenham Park
Silurian and
Tertiary sediments
Keilor
Brimbank
Local
S
Agricultur
e Other
reserve
306500
5827600
In the river channel at the base of a cliff, steeply dipping
Silurian sediments form rapids. Overlying the Silurian
sediments are siliceous beds of Cainozoic coarse sand
and silcrete. The more resistant siliceous beds form an
escarpment at the cliff top.
The channel is an example of the
processes that produced the
extensive sedimentary body of the
Werribee River Delta. It is
evidence that the delta was built
as a subaerial feature by
terrestrial streams and is not a
true sub-aqueous delta.
The site is an example of an
unconformity and also shows the
influence of resistant beds in
determining escarpment
development.
ML 272
Merrett Rifle
Range shore
platform
Williamsto
wn
Hobsons
Bay
Reg
M
Other
reserve
315200
5806500
Four features of significance occur at the southern end of
the Rifle Range: 1) an intertidal area with hummocks of
Sarcocornia quinqueflora which is growing in roughly
circular mounds which are in various stages of
development and are enclosing former intertidal areas; 2)
a shore platform of late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics
basalt. The basalt is massively jointed and breaks the
platform into a series of 4 to 6 sided blocks. The highest
surface of the platform is approximately one metre above
high water mark and the surface slopes landward to be
buried by deposits of sand, silt and shells; 3) Avicennia
marina (White Mangrove) growing on the rocky platform
just behind the platform. At this point, a breach in the
platform has been widened by wave action and a small
circular lagoon has been eroded in the sediments that
overlie the basalt; and 4) a 1.5 m high break of slope
eroded into the shell deposits 100 m inland and roughly
parallel to the coast. This feature may be a former
shoreline.
The site has regional significance
due to the proximity of several
different features in a small area.
Jutson 1931;
McDougall 1986;
Rosengren 1986;
1988; Mitchell et al
2000; LCC 1993
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
26
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
ML 284
Altona shore
platform
Altona
Hobsons
Bay
Local
S
Other
reserve
309700
5806250
The intertidal shore platform developed on late Cainozoic
Newer Volcanics basalt has become uneven as the joints
in the basalt have been weathered. The platform is now a
series of regular 4-5 sided basalt blocks 1-1.5 m in
diameter which are separated by gutters.
The shore platforms along the
Altona-Seaholme coast are the
only natural hard rock outcrops in
the Altona area.
Rosengren 1986;
1988; Mitchell et al
2000; LCC 1993
ML 286
Andersons
Swamp (Lake
Stanley)
Ardeer
Brimbank
Local
M
Other
reserve
305600
5812600
This locality consists of a natural volcanic depression on
the late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics plains surface which
contains an intermittent lake approximately 300 m wide.
Drainage into the lake is via a channel along the slopes of
Mount Derrimut.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 292
Deep Creek
Wildwood
outcrops
Diggers
Rest
Melton
Local
L
Utilities
and
Services
306000
5835200
Tertiary Bullengarook Gravels resting unconformably on
Silurian and Ordovician sedimentary bedrock have been
exposed by Deep Creek and Emu Creek. The rocks are
exposed on the steep valley side and in the channel of
Deep Creek. The small conical hill on the valley floor just
north of the bridge on the western side of the road is an
inlier of Silurian rocks in the core of an abandoned highlevel meander of Deep Creek.
This is the largest lava depression
lake in the western suburbs of
Melbourne and provides a good
example of the topographic
complexity of the late Cainozoic
Newer Volcanics plains surface.
The site illustrates the
characteristic landforms and
geology of Deep Creek valley.
ML 296
Kororoit Creek
incised valley
Sunshine
Brimbank
Local
M
Stream
Reserve
308500
5812200
The Kororoit Creek valley is deeply incised into the late
Cainozoic Newer Volcanics basalt plains, with
escarpments of strongly jointed basalt forming the upper
valley slopes. Fallen blocks from the escarpment have
accumulated on the lower valley slopes and the valley
floor is alluviated with a weakly incised channel.
The site includes the most deeply
incised sector of Kororoit Creek in
the metropolitan area.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 298
Kororoit Creek
valley (St Albans)
Keilor
Brimbank
Local
L
Stream
Reserve
302400
5819500
The valley of the Kororoit Creek varies from a shallow ushaped profile to more deeply incised sectors. The
number of deep permanent pools indicate the recharge
nature of the stream along this sector is high.
The site illustrates the varied
nature of the valley profile of
Kororoit Creek.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 299
Kororoit Creek
waterhole (Deer
Park)
Sunshine
Brimbank
Local
M
Stream
Reserve
305000
5817200
The meandering channel of Kororoit Creek includes
several deep pools developed below undercut basalt
banks. Alluvial terraces have been deposited on the inner
bank of the meander bends.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 300
Kororoit Creek
valley (Altona
North)
Sunshine
Hobsons
Bay
Local
M
Stream
Reserve
309000
5810800
The site is a meander of Kororoit Creek with a terrace
and remnant of a meander cut-off on the western side of
the valley.
The site is a clear example of the
hydrologic complexity of Kororoit
Creek with an alternation of deep
pools and shallow reaches. It is
one of the least modified sectors
of the creek in the metropolitan
area.
The site contrasts with the deeply
incised sector of Kororoit Creek
north of the Princes Highway.
ML 302
Kororoit Creek
escarpments
Sunshine
Brimbank
Local
M
Other
reserve
309000
5810800
Late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics basalt forms
escarpments, and a narrow alluvial terrace also occurs in
the creek valley.
The site is an example of the
original valley form of Kororoit
Creek.
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
ML 304
Ricketts Point
Beaumaris
Bayside
Reg
M
Other
reserve
327150
5792900
At Ricketts Point the shore platform exposed at low tide
extends seaward over 250 m, and is by far the widest
platform on the eastern coast of Port Phillip Bay. The
platform is of hard, ferruginous Tertiary Black Rock
Sandstone and the lithology and structure of this unit is
clearly displayed. Inland of Beach Road is a remnant sea
cliff.
This site clearly displays the
structure of the Black Rock
Sandstone and together with the
Table Rock area (ML 306) further
south, shows the influence of the
anticline/syncline sequence in
determining coastal
geomorphology. These sites in
conjunction with Red Bluff (ML
170) and Black Rock Point (ML
171) have structural.
palaeontological and
geomorphological significance.
Access is easy and safe for
students. The inland bluff is the
only example of this feature on the
Melbourne coast and presents an
interesting problem of
Hall & Pritchard
1897a; Singleton
1941; Gill 1950a;
Kenley 1967; King
Cochrane & Cooney
1987; Hall & Pritchard
1897b; Gill 1950b;
Mitchell et al 2000;
LCC 1993
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
Rosengren 1986;
Mitchell et al 2000
27
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
interpretation.
ML 305
Skeleton Creek
relict spits and
lagoons
Altona
Hobsons
Bay
Reg
M
Other
reserve
306400
5802400
To the north of Point Cook is an area of lagoons, low
sand and shell ridges. The lagoon floors are late
Cainozoic Newer Volcanics basalt buried by silty sand.
The ridges are remnant spits, and are similar to the active
spit systems north of Skeleton Creek. Some lobate forms
of the silty sand may be washover fans into lagoons
rather than recurving spits.
The site is an example of several
relict coastal landforms and
provides an interesting
comparison with the active coastal
features near the mouth of
Skeleton Creek.
Rosengren 1988;
Mitchell et al 2000;
LCC 1993
ML 306
Table Rock Point
Beaumaris
Bayside
Reg
M
Other
reserve
327620
5792750
The coastal cliffs in the vicinity of Table Rock represent
the most extensive cliff development on Port Phillip Bay
in the Tertiary Black Rock Sandstone. The well defined
jointing in the Black Rock Sandstone together with the
generally hard nature of the rocks have resulted in the
formation of low vertical cliffs, with marine processes
being dominant over surface run-off as the major
geomorphic process impacting on cliff forms.
Undermining of the cliffs has produced small sea caves.
The sudden deviation in coastline direction to NE-SW
reflects the influence of the Beaumaris Monocline.
King et al 1987;
Mitchell et al 2000;
LCC 1993
ML 308
Williamstown lava
blister
Williamsto
wn
Hobsons
Bay
State
S
Other
reserve
315850
5806200
At the rear of the late Cainozoic Newer Volcanics shore
platform is a raised, kidney shaped basalt structure that
has been interpreted as a lava blister. This structure is a
shallow elliptical open bowl, 4.8 m by 3.4 m, with a 30-40
cm deep rim. Lava blisters develop when fluid lava
crosses a shallow body of standing water or swampy
ground, causing the underlying water to boil, and the
resulting confined steam pressure is sufficient to raise the
surface of the lava into a closed domal form. The upper
part of the blister has been subsequently removed by
weathering and erosion.
Table Rock area provides a good
example of marine erosion on
moderately hard flat-lying
sediment (as distinct from cliff
development in the softer rocks to
the north at Red Bluff- ML 170,
and Black Rock Point- ML 171).
The development of sea caves is
rare in this region. Table Rock
area provides good access to
inspect this style of coastline in a
scenically pleasing setting.
While there are many types of
raised and uneven surfaces on
lava flows, true lava blisters are
unusual in the Cainozoic volcanic
rocks of Victoria (see also ML
169). As the structure is now
seldom over washed by waves,
the truncation of the upper surface
of the blister may have been
caused by wave action at a
slightly higher sea level.
ML 309
Kororoit Creek
tidal channels and
saltmarsh
Altona
Hobsons
Bay
Reg
M
Other
reserve
312100
5807800
The southern side of the lower Kororoit Creek is fringed
by saltmarsh vegetation. The marsh is crossed by several
tidal creeks including one that is relatively deep and
large.
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
The site is a remnant example of
the original tidal wetland terrain
characteristic of the lower reaches
of Kororoit Creek. It is one of few
such areas remaining on this part
of the coast, and given that the
original terrain of the area was
mostly wetland (but not lakes) it is
worthy of preservation.
The structure is vulnerable to
damage during activities such as
road maintenance, coastal
protection works and development
of recreation facilities as it is only
a few metres from the edge of the
road. The management authority
should be made aware of the
significance and vulnerability of
this feature as a matter of
urgency. It is desirable to set back
the road several metres at this
point to provide protection for the
site or to provide alternative traffic
movement around the Gellibrand
Fort. No coastal installations or
sea defence works should be
undertaken here that would cause
damage to, or would obscure, the
blister.
Jutson 1931; Hills
1940a; Rosengren
1986; 1988; Mitchell
et al 2000; LCC 1993
Willis 1951;
McDougall 1986;
Rosengren 1986;
1988; Mitchell et al
2000; LCC 1993
28
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
ML 310
Beaumaris Cliffs
Tertiary fossil site
No. 1 (Keefers)
Beaumaris
Bayside
ML 311
Beaumaris Cliffs
Tertiary fossil site
No. 2 (Yacht
Squadron)
Beaumaris
Bayside
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
INT
M
Other
reserve
328100
5793400
A steep undercut cliff of Upper Miocene Black Rock
Sandstone has a narrow shore platform with large blocks
of fallen sandstone. The sandstone outcrops in the cliffs,
the platform, and as small reefs offshore. A thin bed with
concretionary phosphate and iron nodules and vertebrate
and invertebrate fossils outcrops on the shore platform.
The higher beds in the cliffs are ferruginised with
ironstone. The lower beds are richly fossiliferous
(pelecypods, echinoids, foraminifera, molluscs) and are
the best and most diverse fossil locality in the Melbourne
area. Particularly the "Lovenia" beds about 3 m above
HWM contain large numbers of well preserved specimens
of the echinoid Lovenia forbesi. Numerous fossils derived
from the cliff beds have also been recovered from fallen
blocks. Vertebrate fossils are commonest in the nodule
bed. The nodule bed represents a flooding event and a
period of concentrated sedimentation. Terrestrial fossils,
including giant kangaroo, wallaby and wombat bones
have also been removed from rock fragments from the
cliff base and are presumed to have fallen from nonmarine beds of the higher Red Bluff Sand.
The site forms part of the type
locality for the Cheltenhamian
Stage, a stratigraphical
subdivision of the Late Miocene.
This is a reference site for
comparison with all other rock
sequences of this age in Australia.
The site has also yielded one of
the most diverse assemblages of
fossil marine mammals recorded
in Australia. It is the basis of
numerous scientific studies and
fossil collections.
The site should be managed as a
geological reference site and high
priority given to maintaining
exposure of the fossil beds both in
the cliff and the nearshore area.
Activity of any kind that would
cover, damage or remove these
exposures should be prohibited
including coastal protection works
or extensions to boating or other
facilities. Access, movement and
collecting policy and management
should occur in consultation with
the Museum of Victoria
palaeontologists. As an
internationally significant site and
type locality for the
Cheltenhamian Stage there is a
need for researchers to access it
as a reference site. It should be
managed jointly with ML 311.
Hall & Pritchard
1897a; Chapman &
Cudmore 1924;
Cudmore 1926;
Singleton 1941; Gill
1957; Wilkinson
1969; Woodbourne
1969; Simpson 1970;
King et al 1987;
Rosengren 1988
INT
M
Other
reserve
328250
5793500
This description is similar to that of Beaumaris Cliffs No. 1
(ML 310). The coast is a steep to vertical undercut cliff of
Upper Miocene Black Rock Sandstone. There is only a
narrow shore platform and the numerous large blocks of
fallen sandstone at the cliff base makes traversing this
section difficult and restricted to low tides. The Black
Rock Sandstone is 15 m thick and outcrops in the cliffs,
the platform, and as small reefs parallel to the coastline.
At the base of the cliffs is a thin calcareous sandstone
overlain by fine sandy marl and sandstone with
calcareous concretions. Higher in the cliffs the beds are
ferruginised, with hard ironstone in the upper sections.
The lower beds are richly fossiliferous and have long
been known as the best and most diverse fossil locality in
the Melbourne area.
This locality has yielded a greater
number and more diverse
assemblage of fossils than any
other comparable locality in
Australia.
The site should be managed as a
geological reference site and high
priority given to maintaining
exposure of the fossil beds both in
the cliff and the nearshore area.
Activity of any kind that would
cover, damage or remove these
exposures should be prohibited
including coastal protection works
or extensions to boating or other
facilities. Of particular concern are
the extensions of the Beaumaris
Yacht Squadron which has been
allowed to build parking facilities
over important outcrop and
degradation around the edges of
the reclamation area. This should
be rectified. Access, movement
and collecting policy and
management should occur in
consultation with the Museum of
Victoria palaeontologists. As an
internationally significant site and
type locality for the
Cheltenhamian Stage there is a
need for researchers to access it
as a reference site. It should be
managed jointly with ML 310.
Hall & Pritchard
1897a; Chapman &
Cudmore 1924;
Cudmore 1926;
Singleton 1941; Gill
1957; Wilkinson
1969; Woodbourne
1969; Simpson 1970;
VandenBerg 1971;
King et al 1987
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
29
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
ML 312
Beaumaris Cliffs
No. 3 (Beaumaris
Monocline)
Beaumaris
Bayside
ML 313
Yarra Boulevard
dyke
Kew
ML
332.01
Warrandyte Gorge
- structural
geology and river
channel
morphology
ML 334
Reg
M
Other
reserve
328500
5793500
The site displays the dip of the Upper Miocene Black
Rock Sandstone (15-20 degrees average) where the
beds are warped along the Beaumaris Monocline.
Opposite Wells Road, the monoclinal warp is seen in
profile in a small cove with a sea cave. The contact with
the Red Bluff Sand is seen here in the upper part of the
cliff. Small reefs lying parallel to the coast are resistant
sandstone beds outcropping along the strike of the
monocline. Towards Charman Road, the dip steepens to
25 degrees and the strike becomes more northerly as the
monocline trends inland. East of Charman Road, the
softer Red Bluff Sand is warped down to sea level and
the erosion of this softer material has produced the
pronounced bight and simple curving coastline between
Beaumaris and Mordialloc. Fossils have been found.
The site is a very clear example of
a monoclinal fold. The variation in
dip and strike of the beds is
clearly displayed, as is the effect
of the changing lithology (from
Black Rock Sandstone to Red
Bluff Sand) on coastal cliff
profiles. It also has significance as
a fossil locality
Hall & Pritchard
1897a; Singleton
1941; Gill 1957;
Wilkinson 1969;
Woodbourne 1969;
Simpson 1970;
Pritchard 1976; King
et al 1987;
Rosengren 1988; Hall
& Pritchard 1897b
Boroondara
Reg
S
Other
reserve
324630
5813970
Intruding and cross-cutting the folded Silurian
sedimentary rocks at Studley Park are a number of
igneous dykes. Most are completely weathered to clay
and in road cuttings many have been concreted to
prevent erosion. At this locality a dyke can be seen in
cuttings on both sides of the road. The dyke has
decomposed to clay with a lining of limonite deposited on
the walls. It is thought the dykes are Miocene in age (6-7
Ma).
Hills 1975; Cooney &
King 1988; Webb
1988; Mitchell et al
2000
Warrandyte
Nillumbik /
Manningha
m
Reg
L
Other
reserve
346200
5824800
Resistant beds outcrop in the channel and form the
rapids and islands in this site. The rock outcrops in the
channel are exposed during normal river level. They are
not obscured to any extent by vegetation or alluvial
deposits, and bedding, dip and strike can be readily
determined. On the whole, the trend of the river channel
between Warrandyte and Yering Gorge is either
transverse or oblique to the strike of the rocks with only
short sectors aligned parallel to strike.
Dykes cutting older sediments are
a common feature in Victoria. This
is a rather poor example and
would normally be of low
significance. However, due to its
proximity to the excellent features
along the Pumping Station track
(ML 52) and at Dights Falls (ML
55), this site has long been used
as a teaching locality on the
geological history of the area.
This sector clearly illustrates the
influence of local rock structures
in determining channel alignment
and pattern. Hence, the sector
indicated for this site is
representative of general
character.
Bend of Islands Strike Ridge
Islands
Warrandyte
Nillumbik
Reg
M
Other
reserve
347300
5825450
The sandstone of the Dargile Formation outcrop in the
Yarra River channel. The sandstone outcrops are
transverse to the channel and have acted as the nucleus
for accumulation of sediments to form substantial
vegetated islands.
This is the largest rock bar island
on the Yarra River and is a clear
example of the effect on channel
patterns production by the northsouth trend of the bedrock.
Rosengren Frood &
Lowe 1983
ML 335
Homestead Road
Bend - Lateral
Rock Bars
Warrandyte
Nillumbik
Local
S
Other
reserve
349200
5825000
Outcrops of Dargile Formation sandstone strike east-west
across the Yarra River channel. The outcrops serve as a
nucleus for deposition of sand and mud and this
accumulation has been built up by floods to above normal
river levels.
An excellent of this type of
meander deflection which
illustrates clearly the development
of an ingrown meander.
Rosengren Frood &
Lowe 1983
ML 336
Entrance to
Warrandyte Gorge
Warrandyte
Nillumbik
Local
M
349600
5824500
The western edge of the Yarra flats is defined by an
escarpment trending south-west from Yarra Glen. This
site encloses the entrance to the Warrandyte Gorge and
includes the narrowing valley, part of the escarpment and
depositional slope forms. It marks the end of the
depositional Yarra flats and the beginning of the erosional
Warrandyte Gorge.
This site encloses the area where
a major change occurs in the
configuration of the Yarra Valley.
Rosengren Frood &
Lowe 1983
ML
343.01
Yarra Bend Park Radial Basalt
Columns
Fairfield
Boroondar
a
Local
S
324000
5816300
The basalt on the eastern side of the Merri Creek shows
a complex radial fracture system in the basalt lava flows.
At the base of the cliff are widely spaced vertical fractures
cut by closely spaced horizontal joints.
This is a good example of a radial
fracture pattern in basalt lava
flows and illustrates the
complexity of jointing that occurs
in basalt. It complements other
sites that illustrate different basalt
fracture systems in the area.
Rosengren 1993
Other
reserve
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Management - International /
National / State only
References
Rosengren Frood &
Lowe 1983
30
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
ML
343.02
Quarries Park Ropy Lava
Collingwood
Yarra
Local
S
Other
reserve
324375
5815475
The site is a small exposure of lava at the edge of the
former quarry now filled by the Collingwood Municipal
Tip. The outcrop shows contrasting basalt structures.
ML 344
Northcote Park
Football Ground Basalt Columns
Westgarth
Darebin
Reg
S
Other
reserve
324140
5816110
The natural cliff at this very narrow part of the Merri Creek
gorge displays lava flows with contrasting orientations of
vertical jointing dividing the flow into three sections. The
lower columnar section is known as a 'colonnade' the
middle as an 'entablature' and the upper is massive or
scoriaceous.
ML 345
Creek Parade Basalt Columns
and Lava Cave
Westgarth
Darebin
Reg
M
Other
reserve
323650
5815950
ML 346
Rushall Station Basalt Structures
Rushall
Darebin
Local
M
Other
reserve
323250
ML 347
Sumner Park Silurian/Basalt
Unconformity
Northcote
Darebin
Local
M
Other
reserve
322470
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
A clear example of some primary
structures of a lava flow (ropy
lava, vesicles, joints) and types of
weathering (spheroidal weathering
and flaking), which complement
the larger scale structures seen at
other nearby lava sites.
An excellent example of a
commonly observed sequence of
joint fractures in basalt lava flows
that divide the flow into three
vertical divisions.
Rosengren 1993
This is a very clear exposure of at least two lava flows or
flow units that form a vertical cliff face adjacent to the low
level crossing of the Merri Creek by the Merri Path at the
west of Creek Parade. The lower ropy flow has large
aligned vesicles and probably represents a thin cooling
flow unit (or units) with rapid gas escape forming aligned
and elongated gas bubble holes. The lower flow is a
massive non-ropy lava flow with complex jointing and
weathering features. The lower 3 m has persistent
vertical joints spaced at 40 - 50 cm in a distinct columnar
form. Closely spaced but irregular horizontal joints divide
the columns into angular sub-blocks. Overlying the
columnar section with a disjunct boundary, the flow has
disorganised jointing giving an irregular fractured surface.
Unusual irregular spheroidal weathering patterns on the
lower, columnar flow include corestones where the “onion
skin” layers are surrounded by basalt that is apparently
little weathered. A small cave (lava tube) in vesicular and
ropy basalt is to the east. This is a primary feature of the
lava flow and not a weathering or erosion hollow.
This is an outstanding site with
very high regional significance for
the variety of lava structures that
are shown in close proximity and
with safe access. The weathering
patterns and the lava cave are
also unusual features in the
Melbourne area.
Rosengren 1993
5816200
Vertical and overhanging cliffs 8 to 10 m high line the
Merri Creek’s southern bank and extend for 200m west of
the level footbridge. The exposures are of the same
sequence seen at ML 345 although the lowermost ropy
unit is not exposed. Corestone development is more
advanced in the columnar unit than at ML 345 and other
distinctive weathering forms are clearly displayed. The
creek’s channel downstream is rocky with gravels derived
from the cliff’s jointed blocks.
The exposure is an excellent
section to show the internal
structure of a lava flow and the
changes due to jointing and
weathering. It supplements the
exposures at site ML 345 by
giving a broader overview of the
joint types.
Rosengren 1993
5817310
An artificial channel sector exposes Silurian sandstones
and mudstones which on the right bank are overlain by
weathered basalts, and the base of the Newer Volcanics
basalts, where a formerly meandering course of the Merri
Creek has been straightened at Sumner Park. It is a
formerly meandering course of the Merri Creek. The
contact between Silurian and basalt is an inclined plane
representing one side of an ancestral (pre-basaltic) Merri
Creek valley. In places, ancient stream gavels in the form
of rounded pebbles of quartz and Silurian sandstone lie
between the basalt and the Silurian rocks. At higher
levels, the weathered Silurian strata is crushed and
contorted where it has been overridden by the lava flow.
Basalt structures just above the level of the ancient river
bed resemble pillow lavas (elongate rounded rock
masses 40 to 60 cm long that form when basalt flows into
water). Whether these are pillows, pahoehoe lava toes or
weathering structures has not been investigated.
Geological unconformities are
significant sites as they are
definitive bench marks separating
geological events and displays the
complex features associated with
burial of a former land surface by
a lava flow.
Rosengren 1993
Rosengren 1993
31
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
ML 348
Capp Reserve Melbourne
Formation
Preston
Darebin
Local
S
Other
reserve
321625
5819840
The cliffs are the remaining faces of the large clay quarry
that occupied this site and provide sections of Silurian
sedimentary rocks of the Melbourne Formation including
one of the small, decomposed dykes that are common in
the Melbourne Formation. Fractures and some beds are
enriched by red-brown limonite which contrasts with the
original pale colour of the sediments. The true dip of the
beds is uniformly towards the east-south-east as the site
lies just east of the axis of the Whittlesea Anticline, one of
the major fold areas of the Silurian rocks in the
Melbourne area. Because the cliffs provide adjacent
sections at right angles, the true dip (i.e. the real dip to
the E-S-E) is seen only on the northern face, while the
eastern face shows an apparent dip to the south. The
sedimentary rocks are cut by two small decomposed
dykes.
This is an excellent section of the
Silurian sedimentary rocks of the
Melbourne district in an safely
accessible situation.
Rosengren 1993; Bell
et al. 1967
ML 349
Tate Reserve Former Creek
Course
Coburg
Moreland
Local
M
Other
reserve
321900
5820100
A broad shallow depression once with a swampy base is
a higher level channel of the Merri Creek. Between this
channel and the present channel is a rounded hill, an
outlier of basalt that has been isolated by the creek’s
migration eastward and incision.
Rosengren 1993
ML 350
Kendall and
Harding Streets Melbourne
Formation and
Terrace
Edgars Creek
Terrace and
Meanders
Coburg &
Preston
Darebin /
Moreland
Local
S
Other
reserve
322000
5820240
The Silurian Melbourne Formation cliff on the left bank of
the Merri Creek cliff marks the western edge of a broad
ridge of Silurian rock that forms the divide between the
Merri Creek and Darebin Creek in Northcote and Preston.
The site is an example of an
earlier, less incised channel of the
Merri Creek. Due to the extensive
modification to creek courses in
the Metropolitan area, it is one of
the few places where earlier
higher level channels may be
seen.
An example of the complex of
processes that have produced
cliffs and terraces along much of
the Merri Creek.
Newlands
Moreland
Local
M
Other
reserve
321450
5821800
The site is a clear example of a
confined floodplain. Fossil
deposits previously found.
Rosengren 1993;
Hanks 1934
ML 352
Edgars Creek Waterfall and
Geological
Structure
Newlands
Moreland
Local
M
Other
reserve
321480
5822000
The site is a broad terrace and floodplain crossed by the
incised meandering channel of Edgars Creek. Undercut
bank sections show the stratigraphy of lava flows and
deposited sediments. Bones of extinct marsupials
including Diprotodon were found in clays of a remnant of
the Pleistocene lake deposit, although these older sites
are now covered by buildings. The creek is incised up to
2 metres below the level were partly blocked by the lava
flows and deposited sediment in a series of lakes and
swamps. A natural “goose-neck” meander is forming at
the site. This is natural process and illustrates the method
by which alluvium is transported and stored in stream
channels.
The site is an outcrop of Silurian sandstone and
mudstone overlain by alluvial deposits of Edgars Creek.
There are three persistent joint directions and several
subordinate ones. The dip of bedding surfaces, a joint
system and secondary infill of fractures by limonite are
illustrated. It nicely illustrates a process of waterfall
formation across a resistant bed and shows how this
system gradually retreats upstream.
An excellent and safely accessible
exposure of the Melbourne
Formation and its structures.
There are few comparable sites in
the Melbourne Metropolitan area
illustrates a process of waterfall
formation.
Rosengren 1993
ML 353
Kodak - Cliff of
Melbourne
Formation
Coburg
North
Moreland
Local
M
Other
reserve
321940
5822560
The 8m high cliff exposes Melbourne Formation
sediments above the left bank of Edgars Creek. The
creek flows westerly along the strike of the sediments for
about 100m. North of this point the creek flow laterally
along the eastern edge of a lava flow.
A good natural vertical section of
Melbourne Formation sediments.
Rosengren 1993
ML 351
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Rosengren 1993
32
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
ML 354
Edgars Creek Dolomite Nodules
North
Coburg
Moreland
Local
ML 355
Coburg Lake Basalt Structures
and Unconformity
North
Coburg
Moreland
Local
ML 356
Coburg Lake Alluvial Terrace
North
Coburg
Moreland
ML 357
Carr Street Weathered
Silurian
North
Coburg
ML 358
Moomba Park
Reserve - Basalt
Escarpment
Fawkner
ML 359
Mahoneys Road Alluvial Terrace
ML 360
Retarding Basin Dolomite
ML 361
ML 362
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Other
reserve
323130
5824410
Edgars Creek is incised into a thin cover of weathered
basalt veneered with alluvium. The base of the creek
exposes Silurian sediments. Above the sediments is an
irregular horizon of nodular rocks from pea-sized
fragments to lumps of 30cm diameter of dolomite
(calcium magnesium carbonate). Some have manganese
rich dendritic infill. The material is not siliceous and
differs from the silcretes at Barry Road gorge.
This is the only site in the
Melbourne area where such subbasaltic material is known. The
site is also of interest for the
unconformity shown between the
Silurian and the overlying
sediments as it provides an
extensive creek channel
exposures of Silurian rocks.
Rosengren 1993;
G.S.V. 1959
S
Other
reserve
320950
5821650
The site exposes Melbourne Formation sediments
underlying Newer Volcanics basalt. Between the two
formations is a buried clayey soil. The Silurian rock dips
towards the west indicating this to be one side of a prebasaltic valley now filled with lava.
An example of the contact
between basalt and Silurian rocks
and is a clear example of the
ancestral valley of the Merri Creek
now filled with lava.
Rosengren 1993
Local
M
Other
reserve
320630
5821870
The site is an alluvial terrace 4m above the level of the
Merri Creek Channel. The terrace edge shows a higher
level bedrock channel overlain by boulders and rounded
stream-worn cobbles of basalt. These are enclosed by an
alluvial silty deposit.
A clear and safely accessible
example of the internal structure
of the Merri Creek river terraces.
Rosengren 1993
Moreland
Local
S
Other
reserve
320825
5821950
An old road cutting shows a section of weathered Silurian
sandstone and mudstone overlain by weathered basalt.
Traces of the buried soil developed on the Silurian rocks
are visible although this is partly obscured by basalt
debris.
The deep weathering of the
Silurian (Melbourne Formation
rocks) well illustrated.
Rosengren 1993
Moreland
Local
S
Other
reserve
321750
5825750
The site is a basalt escarpment rising 5 m above the
narrow floodplain of the Merri Creek. The opposite bank
is a convex slip-off slope with a narrow basal terrace. The
basalt outcrop illustrates jointing and vesicles of varying
size and orientation.
The site is an example of the
typical form of an incised valley
with a basalt escarpment on the
outer bend.
Rosengren 1993
Hume /
Moreland
Reg
M
Other
reserve
321150
5826200
This is an alluvial terrace of the Merri Creek backed by a
degraded valley side bluff.
A common geomorphological
feature of the Merri Creek that has
been extensively modified. I
Rosengren 1993
Thomasto
wn
Whittlesea
Reg
M
Other
reserve
321290
5827480
The site is the eastern slope of the Merri Creek valley cut
into weathered pale-coloured Silurian mudstone overlain
by weathered basalt. Overlying this material downstream
is a thick, stratified alluvial deposit containing small
calcareous nodules. Outcropping and scattered on the
surface are boulders and pebbles of dolomite, less than
3% silica by weight and is not a chert as indicated by Hall
(1989). No definite in situ material can be identified.
Rosengren 1993
Retarding Basin Alluvial Basin
Thomasto
wn
Hume
Local
M
Other
reserve
321400
5827900
The site is a broad erosional basin floored with alluvium
and crossed by the meandering channel of Merri Creek.
The features of interest are the development of this broad
erosional feature, the small flat-topped hills and the
meandering Merri Creek.
Barry Road Gorge
- Unconformity
Campbellfi
eld
Hume /
Whittlesea
Reg
M
Other
reserve
321200
5828300
The site includes cliffs, alluvial and bedrock terraces and
minor floodplains. The major feature is a 15m high cliff on
the right bank of the Merri Creek. The cliff exposes the
unconformity between basalt and the Silurian bedrock
Silurian sedimentary rocks and the Newer Volcanics
basalt, with a number of related features (buried soil,
ground water leakage and carbonate deposition).
An unusual feature in the context
of the Merri Creek. The massive
nodular material described above
has some similarities with that at
ML 354 on Edgars Creek. It is (or
was) abundant at the surface and
would probably have been
available to Aboriginal people.
Given its composition and
structure, it would not be a very
suitable tool-making material.
The basin is an unusual feature in
the context of the Merri Creek.
Other broad flood basins
upstream are a result of the
stream being blocked by lava
flows and are not erosional in
origin.
The site is the best example of
these geological features along
the Merri Creek and comparable
to the well known Organ pipes
National Park.
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
Rosengren 1993
Rosengren 1993
33
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
ML 368
Wallan Woodstock Road
Cuttings Humevale
Formation (1)
Wallan
Whittlesea
Local
M
Utilities
and
Services
325200
5850550
The road cuttings expose gently dipping interbedded
sandstone and siltstone beds of the Humevale Formation.
There is a 1.5m wide decomposed dyke intersecting the
sedimentary beds.
An accessible exposure of the
Humevale Formation, which is the
bedrock of the upper catchment of
the Merri Creek.
Rosengren 1993
ML 369
Wallan Woodstock Road
Cuttings Humevale
Formation (2)
Wallan
Whittlesea
Local
M
Utilities
and
Services
325700
5852400
The cuttings expose gently dipping interbedded
sandstone and siltstone beds of the Humevale Formation.
There are small natural erosion tunnels in the soil horizon
of the eastern cutting. A 2m wide decomposed dyke
intersects the sedimentary beds.
An accessible exposure of the
Humevale Formation, which is the
bedrock of the upper catchment of
the Merri Creek.
Rosengren 1993
ML 374
Taylors Creek
Hakea Rd
Keilor
Brimbank
Reg
S
Stream
Reserve
307200
5824000
Cliff section exposures 2 lava flows; the lower with
developed columnar jointing and the upper with closely
spaced horizontal fractures. The flow boundary is clearly
shown in a red ropey lava surface on the lower flow.
Clear and accessible natural
section of a lava sequence.
Rosengren 1986
ML 375
Werribee River
cliffs - floodplain
sediments
Werribee
Golf Club
cliffs
Wyndham
State
S
Stream
Reserve
295500
5798500
Cliff section on eastern bank of Werribee River expose
floodplain sediments crossed by distributary streams and
an alluvial island at the upstream end of the site.
One of the best natural sections of
thick alluvial deposits of the
Werribee River flood plain.
ML 376
Mullum Mullum
Tunnel Cuttings
Donvale
Boroondara
Reg
M
Utilities
and
Services
339114
5814300
Series of road cuttings between Springvale Rd and the
tunnel showing the Silurian sandstones of the Andersons
Creek Formation, and box work infilling of joints.
ML 377
Koonung Creek
Linear Park
Doncaster
Boroondara
Reg
M
Utilities
and
Services,
stream
reserve
335500
5815000
Cuttings along bike path with excellent exposure of the
Silurian sandstones of the Andersons Creek Formation.
Good examples of jointing, bedding planes and folding.
The modified Koonung Creek valley also can be
observed at this site showing channel form and
alignment.
Folds in Silurian-Devonian
sediment are a common feature in
central Victoria. This cutting is an
excellent example of folds and the
joint boxworks which is less
commonly seen. Limited access
due to freeway location.
Folds in Silurian-Devonian
sediment are a common feature in
central Victoria. This cutting is an
excellent example of folds, joints
and bedding planes. Access to the
modified channel of the Koonung
Creek is boxwoks which is less
commonly seen. Excellent access
due to linear park and bike path
compared to other freeway
cuttings (ML 376 and ML 074)
If it is considered that engineering
works are necessary to reduce the
hazard river erosion may pose to
K Road, the works should attempt
to maintain the integrity of the
steepest sections near the golf
clubhouse. It would be preferable
to divert the river course, by
shortening the meander, rather
than regrading or walling the river
banks. The unmade public road
south of K road along the river
bank is an unnecessary risk, and
should either be closed or
relocated away from the cliff edge
and improved. Dredging or other
interference with the channel
island should not be permitted.
Rosengren 1986
QUEENSCLIFF
QN
017
Sawtells Inlet
Tooradin
Casey
Reg
M
Other
reserve
356000
5769000
A mangrove fringed sinuous tidal inlet typical of those that
fringe the northern margin of Westernport Bay.
A clear display of the development
of flood tide meanders.
Rosengren 1984c
QN
019
Bunyip River and
Delta
Koo-weerup
Cardinia /
Casey
Reg
L
Other
reserve
358500
5769000
A good view of the broad flat expanse of drained
swamplands generally known as the Koo-Wee-Rup
Swamp. Swampland reclamation and excavation of
artificial channels have changed the former
geomorphological processes.
The delta is an example of the
substantial changes to landform
that resulted from draining the
Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp.
Rosengren 1984c;
LCC 1993; Key 1967;
Bird & Barson 1975;
Marsden & Mallett
1975
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
34
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
QN
019.1
Pelican Point Coastal Deposits
Tooradin
Casey
Reg
L
Other
reserve
361614
5768500
The site contains intertidal flats, chenier ridges, mangrove
and salt marsh zones, backed by the Holocene and
Pleistocene sand ridges. One of the few coastal
exposures of freshwater peat.
Unusual tidal drainage pattern.
The freshwater peat is not often
exposed elsewhere.
QN
019.2
Lyall Inlet to
Bunyip River
Koo-weerup
Cardinia /
Casey
State
L
Other
reserve
358500
5769000
The coastal area consists of intertidal flats, sand
beaches, chenier ridges, and mangrove and salt marsh
zones which are crossed by a network of active and
abandoned tidal creeks.
QN
023
Quail Island and
Watson Inlet Area
Warneet
Casey
State
L
Other
reserve
350000
5768000
Pleistocene dunes- intervening swamps are fringed by
salt marsh, mangroves and tidal sand and mud banks. A
relatively undisturbed area for study of sedimentological
processes in a shallow tidal inlet.
The area displays the impact of
the drainage of the Koo-Wee-Rup
Swamp upon the adjacent coast.
By comparison with records and
maps dating back to 1842 the site
provides a major reference point
for measuring the rates and
nature of coastal change.
Comparison may be made with
areas such as Watsons Inlet (Site
QN 023) which have been less
effected by drainage schemes.
The distinctive low cliff between
the salt marsh and the fluvial and
swamp deposits (as marked by
the abandoned cliff) is an
important feature in determining
the Holocene sea level history of
the Westernport region.
A relatively undisturbed area for
study of sedimentological
processes in shallow tidal
embayment in a prograding
section including the nature of
sedimentation in a mangrove
environment. This is the least
disturbed mangrove and salt
marsh area on the mainland shore
of Westernport Bay.
QN
023.2
Watson Inlet
Warneet
Casey/
Mornington
Peninsula
Reg
L
Other
reserve
350000
5768000
The inlet is funnel-shaped with a main central tidal
drainage system and many small tributary tidal creeks.
The inlet is mangrove fringed.
QN
087
Seaford Parallel
Dunes
Seaford
Frankston
Reg
M
Other
reserve
335500
5780000
Dune blowouts are eroding a series of low
unconsolidated ridges on the seaward side of Kananook
Creek. Remnant of a large barrier wetland complex.
QN
091
Yallock Creek to
Lang Lang Beach
- Earth Cliffs
Koo-weerup
Cardinia
Reg
L
Other
reserve
368254
5765500
Cliffs to 2 m high have been cut and are fronted by
extensive tidal mudflats along the east coast of Western
Port.
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
A relatively undisturbed area for
study of sedimentological
processes in shallow tidal
embayment.
The site is the most intact remnant
of the large barrier and wetland
complex that dominated the
physiography of the area between
Mordialloc and Frankston.
Drainage schemes and residential
development have greatly
modified the wetland and barrier
terrain. This is the largest barrier
system in Port Phillip Bay and the
second largest in Victoria after the
Gippsland Lakes/Corner Inlet
barriers. It is an important area for
studies of dune, barrier and bar
morphology and evolution.
One of the few remnants of the
landscape of the great swamp
areas that existed to the northeast of Westernport Bay. It
illustrates the hydrological and
topographical distinctiveness of
Management - International /
National / State only
References
Rosengren 1984c;
LCC 1993
No engineering works should be
undertaken on the coast of the
site. The boundary of the salt
marsh (the low cliff) should be left
undisturbed and no levee banks
or drainage ditches should be
constructed between this line and
low water mark. As the spread of
Spartina has serious
geomorphological consequences;
surveys should be undertaken
annually to determine if this grass
is spreading into adjacent inlets,
and consideration given to
containing this spread.
Rosengren 1984c
High priority must be given to
preserving the entire tidal
drainage system of Watson Inlet
including the salt marsh,
mangrove, inter-tidal and sub-tidal
areas. Further dredging and
deepening of tidal creek systems
should be prohibited and control
must be exercised on extending
land drainage and waste water
outlets into and across the
mangrove and salt marsh zone.
The development of any harbour
or launching facilities inside the
area of the site should be
prohibited.
Rosengren 1984c
Rosengren 1988b;
LCC 1993; Whincup
1944; Cullen 1973
Rosengren 1984c;
Key 1967; Miles 1976
35
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
the area between the Tobin
Yallock and Koo-Wee-Rup
swamps. The outcrops in the
coastal cliffs are of particular
interest to display the phases of
wetland sediment accumulation.
A classic example of a split rock,
an unusual weathering form that is
characteristic of granitic rock.
Management - International /
National / State only
References
QN
110
Upper
Beaconsfield Split Rock
Upper
Beaconsfie
ld
Cardinia
Local
S
Utilities
and
Services
362500
5792200
Split Rock is a single spherical boulder of Tynong Granite
approximately three metres in diameter. It is an
appropriately named feature as it is split into two nearly
equal parts separated by a single curving fracture plane.
QN
113
Pakenham Toomuc Creek
Incision
Pakenham
Cardinia
Local
M
Stream
reserve
365200
5786000
This section of Toomuc Creek has recently widened and
deepened its channel since drainage of swamplands to
the south.
An example of the impact of the
drainage of the swamplands on
channel morphology
Rosengren 1984c
QN
115
Cardinia Park Stream Incision
Cardinia
park
Cardinia /
Casey
Local
L
Stream
reserve
359500
5781600
The Cardinia Creek is deeply incised into a former
swampy flood plain. Formed with the draining of the
former swampland over the last 100 years. The eroding
channel walls expose the swamp and flood plain
sediments.
An example of the impact of the
swamp drainage schemes on
channel patterns in the northern
catchment of Westernport Bay.
Rosengren 1984c;
Bird & Barson 1981;
Key 1967
QN
118
Langwarrin Silurian Outcrop
Langwarrin
Frankston
Reg
M
Utilities
and
Services
339300
5773500
Silurian shales, mudstones and thin sandstone beds are
exposed in the cuttings close to the top structural axis of
the Mornington Peninsula.
Rosengren 1984c
QN
146
Rutherford InletWarneet Beds
Warneet
Casey
Reg
M
Other
reserve
352700
5768600
The cliffs bordering Rutherford Inlet are 2-4 m high, and
display geological sections of the unconformity between
the Warneet Beds and the overlying Cranbourne Sands.
QN
147
Chinaman Island
to Blind Bight
Warneet
Casey/
Unincorpor
ated
Reg
L
Other
reserve
355000
5767600
Chinaman Island preserves Cranbourne Sand
topography. There are abandoned beaches and spits,
and on the western shore on Rutherford Inlet there are
major outcrops of highly ferruginous sandstone which
forms low cliffs, shore platforms and cobble beaches.
However the stratigraphy is still poorly understood,
particularly the origin of the ferruginous sandstones.
The site is of interest to
demonstrate the position of the
Silurian strata in relation to the
axis, a major tectonic feature.
The best exposure of the beds
classified by as the Warneet
Beds. Additional interest in the
site is due to uncertainly and
controversy of the age and origin
of these beds.
The stratigraphic position of the
ferruginous sandstones is not
understood. The parallel sand
ridges are evidence of higher sea
level and/or stronger wave action
in the northern part of Westernport
Bay.
QN
149
Rythdale Arcuate Ridge
Rythdale
Cardinia
Reg
L
Utilities
and
Services
365500
5777900
The narrow ridge traversed by Hobson Rd extends for 3
km south of the Deep Creek Drain but not more than 100
m wide.
This ridge is an unusual feature.
Rosengren 1984c;
Jenkin 1962; Jenkin
1970
QN
151
Cardinia - Arcuate
Ridge
Cardinia
Cardinia
Reg
L
Utilities
and
Services
361140
5776485
A low (5-8 m high) sandy ridge above the drained
wetlands of the former Dalmore Swamp is composed of
coarse and gravely and clayey sand, with a well defined
concave western margin which resembles an abandoned
shoreline. In contrast the eastern edge is less regular
with small lobes of sand surrounded by peaty swamp
deposits.
This is one of the two unusual
broadly arcuate sand ridges that
rise above the drained
swamplands. Their exact mode of
origin has not been investigated in
detail.
Rosengren 1984c;
Jenkin 1962; Jenkin
1970
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Rosengren 1984c
Rosengren 1984c;
LCC 1993 Cass
1973; Thompson
1974; Spencer –
Jones et al 1975;
Jenkin 1962.
Rosengren 1984c;
LCC 1993
36
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
QN
152
Yallock Creek
Swamp
Sediments
Koo-weerup
Cardinia
QN
161
Olivers Hill Tertiary Section
Frankston
References
NAT
L
Other
reserve
367200
5767300
The site includes one of the few great swamp landscapes
in Australia. The outcrops in the coastal cliffs show
phases of wetland sediment accumulation. The lower
course of the Yallock Creek illustrates one of the few
defined natural drainage channels existing prior to the
drainage of the Koo-Wee-Rup and Tobin Yallock
swamps. The drainage schemes have effectively
reduced the Yallock Creek to a tidal and flood overflow
channel. The abandoned channel in its meandering
trench has 3 identifiable terrace levels. With no
mangrove fringe and intermittent beaches, the shoreline
south from the Yallock Creek is a 1- 2 m high eroding cliff
which provides a series of cross-sections into the
sediments of the former Tobin Yallock Swamp. Those
exposed near the mouth are dark grey clays and sandy
clays – the absence of peat indicating this was the
swamp margin.
The site includes one of the few
remnants of the landscape of the
great swamp areas that existed to
the north-east of Westernport Bay
and illustrates the hydrological
and topographical distinctiveness
of the area between the two
swamps. The outcrops in the
coastal cliffs are of particular
interest to display the phases of
wetland sediment accumulation.
No reclamation or further drainage
or construction works should be
permitted in the area of the site.
Works that would alter the form
and dimension of the channel of
the Yallock Creek should be
prohibited.
Frankston
Reg
S
Utilities
and
Services
334400
5775300
A cliff slope developed by an old landslip at the base of
Olivers Hill exposes a Tertiary sediment sequence
underlying weathered Older Volcanics basalt. The most
distinctive bed, at the base of the section, is a weathered
conglomerate with cobbles and boulders of Palaeozoic
sandstone, shale, quartzite and slate set in a sandy clay
matrix. The conglomerate rests on weathered granite but
the contact is obscured by slope wash debris. The
sediments dip northward at an angle of about 15 degrees.
Best exposure of sub-basaltic sediments on the Port
Phillip Bay's east coast.
Best exposure of sub-basaltic
sediments on the Port Phillip
Bay's east coast.
Rosengren 1988;
LCC 1993
Area is a classic site to
demonstrate the rapid
geomorphological changes that
may accompany engineering
works on river systems. The
present phase of rapid incision
and retreat of the knickpoint in the
channel have been clearly
documented and related to the
drainage and other river control
schemes implemented since the
1870s. A major opportunity to
study such change and the impact
of engineering works on
landforms.
Accessible sectors of
underground streams in granite
are unusual in Victoria. The site
awaits more detailed survey.
This is a clear example of
drainage impedance developed in
granitic terrain.
Rosengren 1984c
Rosengren 1984c;
LCC 1993; Miles
1976
WARRAGUL
WL
003
Lang Lang River
Terraces
Bayles
Cardinia
Reg
M
Stream
Reserve
385000
5766300
Exposed in the deeply incised channel of the Lang Lang
River is a good section through Heath Hill Silt which
contains fossil wood fragments with occasional pebble
layers; contact with underlying Older Volcanics is made at
the bottom of the sequence. Probable fluviatile silty sands
and clays with occasional pebble layers, wood fragments
and coaliifed logs of Heath Hill Silts and the underlying
Older Volcanics are exposed in incised channel. Site
includes and abandoned stream course and floodway of
the river. Temporary base level of stream formed by
outcrops of Older Volcanics. River subjected to extensive
artificial drainage modification.
WL
067
Tynong North Hamilton Creek
Cave
Tonimbuk
Cardinia
Reg
L
Stream
Reserve
381600
5790400
A sector of the stream flows underground and is reported
to have a chamber three metres wide and up to five
metres high.
WL
068
Cannibal Creek Impeded Drainage
Tonimbuk
Cardinia
Local
L
Stream
Reserve
382200
5787000
Cannibal Creek is a valley in the southern section of the
granitic ranges north of the Princes Highway. The valley
floor gradient is low and encumbered by granite wash
from the adjacent slopes, and the stream channel has
developed several anabranches.
WL
069
Cannibal Hill Tynong Granite
Tonimbuk
Cardinia
Local
L
Other
reserve
384400
5787600
Cannibal Hill is a conspicuous summit on the southern
edge of outcrop of the Tynong Granite. On the northern
slopes are rock slabs and flared slopes of granite but
there are no large tors.
An easily accessible example of
the Tynong Granite.
Rosengren 1984c
WL
074
Bunyip River Terraces
Spion
Kopje
Cardinia /
Baw Baw
Local
L
Stream
Reserve
390600
5786200
The Bunyip River, at the junction of Two Mile Creek and
Cannibal Creek is bordered by river terraces, including a
paired terrace system. The Bunyip is incised into the
flood plain to a depth of five metres.
Of considerable interest for the
study of the chronology of river
channel changes since European
settlement.
Rosengren 1984c
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Rosengren 1984c;
Finlayson 1981.
Rosengren 1984c
37
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
WL
075
Bunyip River Terraces and
Abandoned
Channels
Tonimbuk
Cardinia
WL
080
Koo-Wee-Rup Main Drain
Bayles
WL
082
Lang Lang River
Incision
WL
084
Reg
L
Stream
Reserve
390400
5784100
This section of the Bunyip River is deeply incised into the
floodplain that was developed prior to drainage of the
swamps to the south. The configuration and depth of
these older channels indicates three stages of terrace
incision.
Of considerable interest for the
study of the chronology of river
channel changes since European
settlement.
Rosengren 1984c
Cardinia
Local
L
Utilities
and
Services
371000
5774900
The channel of the main drain carries a bed load of
coarse sand and minor gravel that gives the channel a
braided form. The accumulation of the sands impedes the
water flow in the drain and it is necessary to dredge the
channel to allow proper drainage.
Rosengren 1984c
Bayles
Cardinia
Reg
L
Stream
Reserve
377200
5767300
The former course of the Lang Lang River at the western
end of Protectors Flats is indicated by a sinuous
depression and low sandy banks. The river now follows
an artificial alignment and occupies a trench over 6 m
deep. The present phase of rapid incision and retreat of
the knickpoint in the channel have been clearly
documented and related to the drainage and other river
control schemes implemented since the 1870's. It
provides a major opportunity to study rapid river channel
change and the impact of engineering works on
landforms and geomorphological processes.
Yannathan - Old
Course of Lang
Lang River
Catani
Cardinia
Reg
L
Stream
Reserve
380800
5767300
The site includes a long sector of the former channel of
the Lang Lang River.
The site demonstrates the
capacity of the drains to transport
coarse materials across former
swamplands and is an indication
of the origin of the old sandy levee
banks and ridges in the Bayles
district.
Demonstrates the rapid
geomorphological changes that
may accompany engineering
works on river systems. The
present phase of rapid incision
and retreat of the knickpoint in the
channel have been clearly
documented and related to the
drainage and other river control
schemes implemented since the
1870's. It provides a major
opportunity to study rapid river
channel change and the impact of
engineering works on landforms
and geomorphological processes.
The site is an example of the
major landscape changes that
accompanied the draining of the
swamplands.
WL
086
Heath Hill - Fault
Scarp
Catani
Bass
Coast /
Cardinia
Reg
L
Utilities
and
Services
380000
5772000
The Eastern margin of the Koo-Wee-Rup Plain is marked
by an abrupt rise tensing NE-SW. This rise extends from
west of Drouin towards the coast of Grantville and forms
the western margin of the elevated block-faulted terrain of
the South Gippsland Hills.
The area includes physiographical
and geological features important
in determining the stratigraphy
and structure of the eastern part
of the Westernport catchment.
Rosengren 1984c;
Thompson 1974;
Spencer –Jones et al
1975; Jenkin 1962;
1974
WL
088
Athlone - Lang
Lang River
Knickpoint
Heath Hill
Cardinia
State
M
Stream
Reserve
386600
5765200
The site marks the limit of headward erosion of the Lang
Lang River following rejuvenation subsequent to drainage
and diversion works downstream. The site illustrates the
rate and mechanism of retreat of the erosion head of the
Lang Lang River.
The site is of major importance in
illustrating the rate and
mechanism of retreat of the
erosion head of the Lang Lang
River. The steep banks display an
important stratigraphic section of
phases of late Quaternary
sedimentation in the Lang Lang
valley.
WL
097
Lang Lang Earth
Cliffs
Lang Lang
Cardinia
Reg
M
Other
reserve
369000
5763000
Example of a rapidly changing low coastal cliff along a
crenulate coastline.. The profiles expose peat horizons
but the embayments have beaches of coarse shell
fragments, sand and gravel. Sandy cheniers occur where
storm waves have overtopped the low cliffs,
A classic example of a rapidly
changing low coastal earth cliff
with excellent exposures of the
swamp materials.
Rosengren 1984c;
LCC 1993; Gell 1974;
Miles 1976
Gembrook
Cardinia
Reg
L
Utilities
and
Services
375000
5798200
The site includes an area on the watershed between the
Westernport stream and the tributaries of the Yarra River.
It is a possible site of pre-basaltic stream system
extending from Woori Yallock Basin crossing to the
present divide.
The site is of particular interest in
the context of early
geomorphological discussion on
the evolution of the Yarra and
Westernport drainage systems
Rosengren 1984c;
Keble 1918; Edwards
1940
WARBURTON
WR
Gembrook East 071
Lava Residual
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
Rosengren 1984c;
Key 1967; Thompson
1974; Bird 1981.
Rosengren 1984c
Private unplanned and uncoordinated erosion control works
should not be permitted, as
dumping of rock and other
material will obscure the
geologically important sections in
the stream channel and banks.
Consultation should be made with
geomorphologists familiar with the
nature of channel and bank
erosion rates before any
reclamation works are undertaken
at the site.
Rosengren 1984c
38
ID No.
Site name
Location
LGA
Sig
Size
Land use
Easting
Northing
Description
Significance statement
Management - International /
National / State only
References
WR
072
Egg Rock Granite Outcrop
Gembrook
Cardinia
Reg
L
Utilities
and
Services,
other
reserve
381100
5802600
The rock slopes and boulders at Egg Rock are outcrops
of the Tynong Granite, a medium grained to porphyritic
intrusive rock. Differential weathering produced large tors
and exfoliation sheets with a small area of broken rocks
on the peak’s northern.
Extensive outcrop.
Rosengren 1984c
WR
073
Seven Acre Rock
- Granite Outcrops
Gilderoy
Cardinia
Reg
L
Other
reserve
390000
5803200
The site includes four separate areas of outcrop of
Tynong Granite. The areas include treeless rock slabs
and granite tors several metres high.
Extensive area of tor exposure on
the Tynong Granite
Rosengren 1984c
WR
074
Black Snake
Range - Granite
Slopes
Gembrook
Cardinia
Reg
L
Other
reserve
381500
5796700
The Black Snake Range is a prominent east-west divide
developed in the Tynong Granite. The crest of the divide
rises to almost 400 metres and at this site there are
numerous exposed granite slopes and large boulders
near the ridge crest.
Typical of the low ranges in the
upper catchment of the main
tributaries of the Bunyip River.
Rosengren 1984c
Abbreviations:
Size: S- Small (100 m across or 1 ha); M- Medium (100-500 m across or 1-25 ha) and L- Large (>500 m across or 25 ha)
Significance (Sig): INT – International; NAT – National; State: Reg – Regional; Local
Zone: Zone is 55; Easting & Northing are AGD 94 co-ordinate system.
Wakelin Associates VEAC Melbourne Metropolitan Investigation: Geological Sites
39